I was just trying to write a test for independent study of History of Photography and I was about to make a question about the photo by Joe Rosenthal of the Marines raising the american flag on Iwo Jima and something struck me. Why are the Marines putting a flag in the ground on foreign soil reminiscent of Renaissance Imperial Explorers claiming the foreign soil for their monarchs?

Ever since this event the photo has been praised and held as symbol of extreme patriotism and glorified beyond all measure. Why are we claiming foreign soil for ourselves? And why is this accepted?

This photo does not inspire anything but more distaste for this nation's history.

edit: But maybe I'm being irrational and idealic. I shouldn't automatically assume that ALL of our nations actions are completely self serving and imperialistic.


 

Abnormality...
How often are the weathermen utterly wrong 4 out of 5 days?
How many times do you get to sleep in your front yard under bright blue skies on days supposed to be wretchedly awful.

Somehow watching grass grow from its own perspective makes you forget all your worries.
Somehow the bum yelling at the kid taking a picture of you and thinking he's doing you a favor makes my day so much brighter.

Some days just being able to think

makes life more enjoyable.

Todays been a good day. (If only the insurance salesmen would stop calling)

12/20/07 Dehradun, India
    At the train station Mr. Paul arranged for Albert, a local pastor, to meet me. As I arranged my things he came aboard and then led me to his vehicle, a Mahindra SUV. It looks very much like the Toyota Land Cruiser but only Indian made. We drive through Dehradun which is very crowded. Albert says this only happened once Ddun became the capital of the new state, some five years ago. Before it was a quiet town.
    Dehradun is in a valley completely surrounded by mountains, the Himalayas. Albert says it’s the Jerusalem of India. There are many schools in Dehradun. Children come from all over India to go there.