When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver Int'l Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as one of the most powerful in the process. "See the people in the windows? They sit right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They're going to remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. And they should." ~ © 2005 Rocky Mountain News **********************
Friday afternoon I received an e-mail from a friend. It was prompted by yesterday's blog, "Image of the Day," which was a photo of a soldier killed in Iraq returning home. It reminded me of an Edward Hopper painting.
Inspired by that, this friend sent me this link to the Rocky Mountain News. There you will find a series of extremely powerful and sobering images by Pullitzer Prize winning photographer, Todd Heisler. And while viewing the images there, I wondered why in the hell we don't see more of these?
I know it's the president's desire to shield us all from the more unpleasant realities these photos depict - the consequences of his unfounded war. But we all need to see these, and see them often. These are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, our family members, our loved ones, our friends coming home in the shadows of the night.
I chose this particular image because of its starkness. Of a reality Lt. James Cathey's fellow passengers were forced to confront at the end of this, his last flight home.
Funny, yesterday I posted the "Image of the Day" because it reminded me of something the late Edward Hopper might have painted. Just now, studying this image, I am struck by the reminder of another American artist this one so strongly suggests. But that's not my point today.
No, the point is this war and the one just two doors over in Afghanistan are being conducted as we Americans back home go comfortably about our business. But these images convey precisely what is "our business." And it's one, sadly, too many of us choose to ignore.
And as a anecdote to the friend who sent this link to me, please note he is a German citizen living here in the States. And of the source of his link he says, "I got this link out of the German Magazine I still receive through the Military." Figures. It's difficult to imagine any American magazine linking to these images.
Thanks friend, for forwarding the link to this site containing these most sobering images. "Miss, can we get some more champagne over here?"
* In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
Inspired by that, this friend sent me this link to the Rocky Mountain News. There you will find a series of extremely powerful and sobering images by Pullitzer Prize winning photographer, Todd Heisler. And while viewing the images there, I wondered why in the hell we don't see more of these?
I know it's the president's desire to shield us all from the more unpleasant realities these photos depict - the consequences of his unfounded war. But we all need to see these, and see them often. These are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, our family members, our loved ones, our friends coming home in the shadows of the night.
I chose this particular image because of its starkness. Of a reality Lt. James Cathey's fellow passengers were forced to confront at the end of this, his last flight home.
Funny, yesterday I posted the "Image of the Day" because it reminded me of something the late Edward Hopper might have painted. Just now, studying this image, I am struck by the reminder of another American artist this one so strongly suggests. But that's not my point today.
No, the point is this war and the one just two doors over in Afghanistan are being conducted as we Americans back home go comfortably about our business. But these images convey precisely what is "our business." And it's one, sadly, too many of us choose to ignore.
And as a anecdote to the friend who sent this link to me, please note he is a German citizen living here in the States. And of the source of his link he says, "I got this link out of the German Magazine I still receive through the Military." Figures. It's difficult to imagine any American magazine linking to these images.
Thanks friend, for forwarding the link to this site containing these most sobering images. "Miss, can we get some more champagne over here?"
* In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
6 comments:
dada, just as I was recovering from your picture yesterday, now more to digest. How sad that your friend had to be on a military list for "research and educational purposes" to link these.
re: the picture you featured ... at first, I thought you had spliced 2 images, that the upper half of people's faces in the plane window weren't related to the military casket being unloaded. I don't have a clue which other American artist it reminds you of, maybe you'll reveal that later? But seeing it made me angry that no upper level neocon has been on those planes, escorting caskets. Nah, their bravery is confined to creating a situation where other people's children & spouses can die.
I was particularly moved, for different reasons, by the little boys in their pretend-military garb staring at the casket. what could they be thinking? also, the wife pressing her very pregnant belly into her dead husband's casket. it's just beyond belief the grief these bastards are continuing to cause all over the world.
I'm glad you shared the link, yes, should be mandatory Sunday evening fare all over America. You know, family time, when we all sit down to Sunday dinner together & review this week's war progress & how many freedoms we gave up this week & how safe we all feel now. Might make some lose a little of their appetite for this criminal leadership. D.K.
DK: It was Norman Rockwell I was thinking of. This painting contains several elements so very typical of his painting style. In fact, I suspect he may have been looking Todd Heisler's shoulder, helping him to compose this most excellent shot (untouched by me re splicing or any other effects). It's just incredible, isn't it?
Dada! I didn't want to show my art ignorance, but I was GOING to say that it kind of reminded me of some Saturday Eve Post covers, but they were mostly Norman Rockwell, and, well ... since I'm only familiar enough with maybe a dozen classic american artists works to be able to identify a particular style, I thought that would be too long a shot. Boy, I HATE to miss a chance to show off my limited skills! Yeah, those faces glimpsed through the little windows caught in various expressions, while the men down below are bent over working in uniform ... very rockwellish. D.K.
Hey, Hi BB5: Thanks for sharing this blog around with some on your e-mail list. I couldn't agree more with you (and DK).
Where the hell's the god-damn sacrifice for most Americans (other than those dying, getting shot up and/or traumatized the rest of their lives).
The rich are getting tax cuts like we're in a period of prosperity while our kids and grandkids will have to sacrifice scads for this neocon hubris and insanity. And yet, "we" think we can add another freakin' war or two on top of the ones we've already lost. Sick bastards!
thanks for posting on this...heart braking....
When I saw this photo, I also thought it was chopped up and pasted together. The people's faces in the airplane look too big to be in the same shot as the men loading the casket.
I see these photos, and they make me wish that we could all just get along. I mean, with all of the shit that the Bush regime has been pulling, I don't know why more people don't take a closer look. If they did, maybe we'd have more of our citizens going, "Now wait a second, that's more corruption than I bargained for. What the hell's goin' on?"
Unfortunately, we don't, so oh well.
Post a Comment