City - London State - ENGLAND Country - United Kingdom
About
The title was taken from a very good film called "Rollover" (the banking term in this case) about a worldwide economic / financial collapse due to a series of unforeseen events. I find the film very apropos considering what's going on these days. We're all just one very successful terrorist attack away from it all happening and ANY leader who tells you he's keeping us safe is full of c**p. We're all living under the "Illusion of Safety." This is all going to get worse until intelligent thinking replaces non thinking, macho reactions (it might be too late anyway considering the damage that's been done). On the other hand, 2005 is as good of a year as any to start WW III. (PS used to go to B / W )
You're absolutely right, Mark. The politics of fear have hoodwinked people into handing over power gained over centuries of evolution of the system of democracy. In the illution that it will make them safer.
The image illustrates the point very well. How can you be sure you are safe? Any passenger on that bus, or a driver of a car, could be about to commit the next attocity. That's the insiduous nature of terrorism.
I mean, even a policeman may pump some bullets in your brain for no reason at all...
Angelo, it WILL be disproportionately be of cars driven by people with dark complexions. I appreciate your honesty. The terrorists have won, when "innocence until proven guilty" no longer is regarded. They have won, because racial profiling (racism) has been legally implemented.
I have a difficult time with photographs infused with political themes. This one succeeds at communicating the ugliness of these times. But notice that without the title and the "about," it's pretty ambiguous.
A very salient point made by a seemingly innocent photo, Mark. Looks like you are getting some heat for "politicizing" Usefilm, but I believe that photography's greatest use is to lay out important issues, put them right in our faces, and force people to look for the truth. It's journalism, it's recording and commenting on the real issues of today. If some people here don't like that, don't think politics should be an acceptable issue, then they shouldn't comment on those photos that have a political context. Move on to a photo that has a subject more to their liking. No one is forcing them into a debate.
I meant to mention, Mark...my first preference was to email you directly, but no link. In retrospect...my response is more of the same that I DONT like about UF. Like Randy said, we need to focus on what brought us here.. photography. Yeah, I get easily stirred up, and while I don't regret responding to your frequent political commentary, I wish it was not part of this forum. I fully realize the huge part that photography plays in world events, war, etc... but I believe in letting an image speak for itself, and that the constant diatribes are a lot like, well...lectures from 1969. Regards, Brad
Amen(sorry,that may not be a PC word nowadays)to Brad's words. I have never seen so much politcal mulch being added to photographs on UF as has been recently happening. I do not know where you draw the line, but it has clearly been crossed. A VERY brief comment by me recently to show disagreement to political opinions being put forth(which really have NO place on UF) brought scorn upon me. Forgive me if I disagree to political ideas being propagated by others here who see this site as an outlet for their polical action agendas. For my imput to what had ALREADY been started, I was likened to a child in a sandbox, called an idiot,told to go away,lied about, ect. Then people had the gall to say I and others who didn't fit their views, were being inconsiderate! I would like to see an end to this so we could get back to enjoying each other's photographs without regard to our politics, religions(or none)or where we live, all of which is what I felt made this such a great site.
Hmmm. Mark, I will volunteer myself as a VERY easy target. One who actually has some positive things to say about the efforts being made here, and abroad, against terrorism and tyranny. I will also preface, by saying that I respect your opinion (and your photographic skills, too).
You make no effort to conceal your political views, by attaching them to so many of your photos. I would hope that my open support of our troops, AND our congress (yup..democrats voted "yea", too), to stand up against evil will not be interpereted as me being happy about our losses. I mourn the death of our soldiers, and the innocents that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I commend the bravery and dedication of the soldiers that have freed thousands, built schools, and enabled free elections. Show me Mark, the incredible progress that the U.N., or any other "peacekeeping" missions ever made in either country. How many schools did Kofi Annan build? It is a sad, and grim, and regrettable fact that guns with real triggers, and bombs that really kill are the only tools that work against those with evil in their hearts.
I am with you 100% Mark, about the attrocities, and casualties of war. The tears fall from my eyes, just like yours....over the innocent victims; the horrific deaths.
I ask only that you do a summary of the last thousand years. Look at the leaders who had evil in their heart. Look how far they went....when allowed. And finally, look at what was the ONLY way to make them stop..... BAD PEOPLE don't respect common sense solutions, they don't respect Kofi Annan or Greenpeace, they don't respect comprimise. But a bullet between their eyes usually works. I just am AMAZED at the lack of common sense, and the indifference to history, that many employ when assessing todays conflicts. So call me whatever it is that I am, Mark. Like I said, I've made myself an easy target for those who operate solely on emotion. Respectfully, Brad
It all depends how random "random" is. Do you think a disproportionate amount of the "random" stops will be of cars driven by people with dark skin? Hmmm...
Mark, do you want scary? Here's scary: a man was shot dead by police on the tube in London yesterday, after being followed and then chased from a house that was under surveillance. An eyewitness account says he was bundled into the ground and held before an undercover policeman unloaded 5 bullets into him. But the scary part is that I have heard people say that it's "good, if he was a terrorist I am glad he was shot".
If we give up on the rule of law and proper trials, then the terrorists have won. The British government will be taking advice from Pakistan on how to deal with dissidents next...
Yeah, let's just start randomly searching cars on the street, since THEY might be filled with explosives! Man, I can't believe how stoopid our government has become.
______in a handbasket,my friend!...good B/W shot of probably a "once upon a time" London...like the higher perspective.....rec'd your e's...yeah, that commuter bag check in NYC ought to be the saving solution,huh?!...sing along with me..."if i only had a brain...da da da do run run"...bahahahaha...regards,gayle
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