Reflections on Poverty: A Photograph of a Desolate Man in Casablanca
Posted on December 27, 2011
By The Activists Photography Collective
Outside of the medina in central Casablanca, Morocco, a man rested shamefully with his back turned to the public whilst shoppers went about their daily duties, bags in hand, ignoring this man’s existence. His face was hidden, but it wouldn’t have mattered even if it wasn’t: globally, we have become so desensitized to the suffering of our fellow human beings that we walk past those perched on street corners, laying in the gutters, begging for money, or bundled up during fridgid weather without giving them a second thought. If they do something that catches our attention in any particular way, annoyed looks or words of disdain are usually cast in their direction. They are just like you and I and deserve to be treated as such, regardless of the amount of money in their bank account, the clothes on their back, or whether or not they have roofs over their heads. From Casablanca to Kalamazoo and everywhere in between, the revolution of compassion must start today. Be a revolutionary by honouring human dignity.
You're not vetting these, are you, Larry?
ReplyDeleteHow do you know what he is doing from the pix? He may be fighting a hangover, or adjusting a contact lens.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in an apartment in theSouth Natomas district of Sacramento. I liked living there. My room mate was a senior political advisor to the California state legislator. Eventually, I moved out of state and several years later returned on vacation to visit some old friends. I forgot in California you have to pay for gasoline in advance - which was not true in Texas or several other states at that time. So I pulled up to a station in my old neighborhood and began fueling my car, not realizing that a guy had just waited in line inside the store to prepay. He had prepaid for gas on the pump I was using, but I just assumed I would fill the tank and then go inside to pay.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say he was a bit frustrated. I apologized over and over. I felt terrible and I think he eventually understood. I immediately entered the station, explained what I did and got things straight. But as I explained the situation it became aware that I didn't know the prepay policy.
As my lack of knowledge surfaced another guy standing in line said "You ought to know you have to prepay, man. You're in the ghetto."
The ghetto? I lived in the ghetto just 5 or 6 years earlier and didn't know it. Suddenly, I felt all disenfranchised! But then I was relieved. I couldn't believe I'd actually made it out of the ghetto. I had made it, apparently, against all odds!
I'm a survivor. And I'll bet our man in the picture could be a survivor, too. All we have to do is not tell him he is poor and I'll bet he does just fine.
Anon 12:00pm, what type of franchise were you deprived of?
ReplyDeleteApparently, I was deprived of feeling poor. From what I've read on this blog, feeling poor is actually an enriching experience. So, I'm not rich b/c I haven't had the chance to feel poor. Screwed by the man, again!
ReplyDeleteAnon 753-
ReplyDeleteRemember - money can't buy poverty. Sounds pretty hopeless for you!
But the more hopeless I am, the more deserving I become! Oblivious victimhood is looking better and better.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes its better not to know- rather than know that you do not know.
ReplyDeleteThe post describes a man sitting alone "whilst shoppers went about their daily duties, bags in hand, ignoring this man’s existence." And all some of you can focus on is whether the picture is correctly "interpreted." Does anyone actually doubt that homeless people are routinely ignored at best, and treated rudely at worst? So what's the point of focusing on a distraction? Wait, maybe that is the point. As usual, not wanting to consider what Larry is talking about, you change the subject.
ReplyDeleteAnd do you really think the photographer has no idea what he's shooting? He's not a tourist. He'd probably been observing the scene for some time.
Anon 1041 - its nothing but conjecture on the "desolate man " pictured. So if you want to make a point on the homeless, why not use a stick figure drawing?
ReplyDeleteGo to the blogsite from which the image was taken. It is a project in creative writing, untethered to reality. Larry is not vetting. He is probably provoking (poking) conservatives, which is why he got the lighthearted response.
ReplyDeleteYou liberals seem to be a bit uptight.