Sunday, March 16, 2008
From the Reuters photographers blog:
Two points here: First, Brazil should thank its lucky stars that "indigenous" Brazilians don't have a 57 nation lobby at the UN. Second, what comes by way of commentary at the Reuters blog:
The symbols are reinforced by the strong composition. The woman and her child appear all the more vulnerable as the only elements of humanity and colour against the advancing wall of shields and boots.Such a potent image leaves very little room for any doubt. In such circumstances do we need to know the details of the dispute to have any doubts that what we are witnessing is wrong?
Uh, yeah, actually, we do. We do need to know more, unless we trust the photographer and the news outlet absolutely. Hopefully we've learned well enough by now NEVER to do that, but to ask more questions, since photographers and editors will not hesitate to publish striking photos that lie with the impressions they leave. It may very well be that this photo tells the truth with images, it's equally likely it does not. We need those thousand words.
Outrage ought to be righteous and justified, not simply reactionary. That requires knowledge, understanding, and a press that doesn't lie.
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In the blog comment section someone notes:
You should always know the details. At least, know that the MST (Landless Movement) is a semi-terrorist organization that frequently kills farmers and land-owners, and work close to another organization which has destroyed 20 years of genetic engineering research a couple of years ago. This does not mean that what you’re witnessing in the picture is right, but it does mean that reality is much more complex than the picture shows.
Someone named "Tom" says:
The efforts against the Landless Workers Movement is mostly spurred on my large American and European corporations looking for cheap land and cheap labor in foreign countries. The only real way to distance your selves from these companies is to consume locally. Try the 100 Mile Diet. Only by Fair Trade certified products.
You see, only by stopping our evil capitalist habits of consumption (and by bankrupting Brazil) can we help this poor woman and her child. They don't need our filthy dollars. Buy fair trade products! Workers unite!
I'll bet "Tom" sells Fair Trade certified products...