September 29

Visual Response

During times of poverty and destruction, humans have always banded together to created societies and groups while rejecting others based on differences alone. In the picture, a person is standing guard keeping out anyone, especially the children playing in front of him. He needs to keep the less fortunate away from a wealthy and thriving society.

The guard holds a firearm resembling the Russian Ak-47 but it is only a clone. This person also wears green dress pants and black dress shoes-the same colours of military personnel. The man, which can be determined by the size and the hair on his arm, could have been a normal citizen but forced into military service. He also could have been part of a private military contracted to work there. A watch is also worn around his wrist which indicates that he is part of a society that has more money and has a large amount of disposable income. He also has his finger on the trigger, although this could be because of the lack of training around firearms due to his conscription into the military, but it could also symbolize that he is ready to use the gun against anyone at any given time.  There are children playing soccer in front of him but they are at a significant distance being fearful of the gun as well as interacting or passing the man.

The clear background indicates a difference between society. The man stands at an entrance of concrete barriers. On the side he is defending, the buildings stands tall without significant damage on the exterior. The surrounding fences and vegetation are undamaged too. On the other side of the barrier, there is a another building with no windows or doors, where walls have crumbled inward onto the only remaining structure, the foundation and support for the original building with no surrounding vegetation. This would also show that particular side does not have any money in order to pay for the repairs to the buildings as well as other infrastructure. This also translates to the children since they are playing a simple game in a devastated area,suggesting that the children live a life of poverty. The building was not decimated because of a natural disaster, but a side effect of a war; the man holding a gun would be evidence of such as there is no humanitarian aid in the photograph. The background was to provide a contrast between the different societies, one with habitable and comfortable living conditions and the other with war torn buildings not for for any human being to live in.

The most eye catching part of this photograph is the man with a gun in hand standing guard, keeping away any intruder including children. He does not want anyone who in inferior or any other group who  is deemed by the society as lesser peoples to invade and assimilate into a better, more affluent society. The constant readiness with his finger on the trigger shows his dedication to this cause is further exemplified with the gun in hand symbolizing that he is willing to use force and violence and create bloodshed.

In times of despair,it is very often that a society will find a scapegoat and label a group of people as lessers and inferiors, while convincing people to take radical action against that scapegoat. Humans will always fight against one another based on differences and cause war to breakout even when a city is in shambles with no hope in the future.

Category: Orion, Sept 2017 | LEAVE A COMMENT
September 28

Freedom By Zaha

With my finger on the trigger of my semi-automatic, I patrol the broken sheets where the children are the only sound of life left in this abandoned, bombed-out pile of concrete. I tread around the cement walls that surround the children, ensuring no one gets out. When I stand beyond the boundary, I see the kids laughing and kicking balls, escaping their concrete cell with dreams of being soccer stars. Ignoring their surroundings completely. Completely unaware that they are surrounded by large walls. Completely unaware that they are surrounded by the reality of war.

But once they see me, they stand stand straight, eyes down and walk further away from the boundary. Guilt is always gnawing away within me because I want to help them, I want them to be happy, I want to help the few children who are left. But I can’t; it is not my job. I am an Israeli soldier. The enemy of these Palestinian children. My job is to keep them within these boundaries. I love these children, but I love Israel more. 

I stare at them walking away. I can’t appear upset. I look up at the blue sky and tall green palm trees. Everything is so perfect when you look up; however, once you look down the perfection is gone. On my side of the boundary you see cars and buildings not destroyed, yet, by the war. I wish they could see the colourful buildings, the luxury cars, the unique clothing, and taste the exquisite food. 

The sound of kids laughing and balls being kicked around starts again. My presence affects the children. I peak around the boundary, mainly leaning against one of the walls. Staying out of sight. I see two kids playing soccer. The goalie hits the ball too hard and it rolls towards the boundary line. I quickly turn my back against the wall. I had no intention to ruin their fun. When the ball stops, right at the line, he picks it up looks up at the sky. Smiles. As he looks down our eyes meet. His smile disappears. His gaze lowers. I lower my gaze and my gun. Right when he turns to walk away I attempt to smile or even wave back, but I can’t. Being in the army has made me so cold-hearted I forgot how. 

 

Category: Sept 2017, Zaha | LEAVE A COMMENT
September 27

Genuine

Genuine

The gunshots are terrifying. I can hear them from our rusty apartment. Mama and Papa  would always say “Don’t worry beta (son), I will always keep you safe.” I was eight years old during the most disastrous Afghanistan war I have lived through. The men in those ugly uniforms running around carelessly, shooting and killing neighbors and families, kidnapping children, who were never seen again. It is horrifying. I remember the day when those men took Mama and Papa, and shot them right in front of me. They were the ones who were supposed to keep me safe.

I hadn’t been outside in a while to play with my friends, Nani (grandma) would never let me in case those men came through our village again. I could remember when I played soccer with Vijay and Kumar. I was the best. For as long as I can remember, my dream was to become a professional soccer player. Papa bought us a soccer ball by selling one of our kitchen pots and we would play from dawn to dusk. But ever since it got more dangerous, I wasn’t allowed to go outside.  

I can clearly remember this one day, it was around 9:00 o’clock in the morning, April 1964, when one of the men living in the next door apartment yelled, “There are no men right now! Come everyone, come get the clean water before they do! Come! Come!”

“Beta, stay here okay? I need go get the water from the well. Do not go outside.” Nani said.

All I said was “Okay”.

There was no one in apartment except a few kids. All of a sudden I heard familiar sounds. It was Vijay and Kumar playing out in the courtyard with our old soccer ball and the torn up soccer nets one of the neighbors built a long time ago. Vijay caught me staring out the window.

“Hey! Come play.”

“Nani said I can’t come outside!”

“Come on you coward, they are all gone to the well. It will take them a while.” he replied.

All I could say was “Okay.”

I was actually nervous and terrified. I haven’t been on the courtyard since the men came to take Mama and Papa. Horrible thoughts were going through my head.

“Come let’s play,” said Kumar. We started to play; it had felt like nothing changed. I was still the best.

“Oh no! The ball went out, go get it!” Vijay yelled from the other side of the courtyard.”

I ran towards the entrance of the courtyard, beside the large useless wall. As I came toward the ball, I saw a man. A man in a ugly uniform, holding the largest rifle in his right hand. I couldn’t move. Those horrible thoughts were racing through my head. But the man kept watching us, as if he was watching us for a while. He did not move, no smile, not even a twitch. But the man did say these words, “Wow Beta, you are the best at this game.” and the man walked away toward the road that is the exit out of the village. He never came back. For the first time ever, I embraced the genuine man in the ugly uniform. The only time, ever.

 

Category: Sapna, Sept 2017 | LEAVE A COMMENT