Holding On to Images of the Past

This picture depicts two Iraqi women holding photographs of loved ones, but the men in these pictures were taken away from them many years ago. To these women, July 31st 1983 is remembered as a day of real tragedy. On this day, Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi soldiers came into various villages and took away all of the men. The villages were told that the men were being taken to work as laborers for the day, but as it turned out, they were never to be heard from again. The women of these villages, like the ones shown in Salgado’s picture, are still hopeful for the return of their brothers, sons, friends, and husbands.

In an article published in the Los Angeles Times, Bahar Suleiman, one of the thousands of women who lost family that day stated that, “We still have not given up hope. We expect our husbands to return” (Daragahi). This is very optimistic, but when does optimism go too far? Suleiman again says, “I still believe that someday my husband will walk through that gate there” (Daragahi). Many of these widows have pushed themselves into somewhat of a state of denial. It is like these Iraqi women have placed their lives on pause and have failed to press play again for over twenty-six years. This same news article tells how Bahar Suleiman’s daughter, Leila, refused to marry for many years, and the article attributes this decision to her missing father. She was afraid of leaving her mother and moving on, so these two women simply continued to wait for the return of their loved one. In 2006, Leila discovered that her father had indeed died and been buried in a mass grave many years ago. At first, this was difficult for her and her mother to deal with, but the pain eventually subsided. Also, Leila fell in love and was married not long after. Reflecting on her experience, Lelia said, “Until now, there was no happiness in my heart. If you are waiting for something, you cannot move on to something else” (Daragahi).

It is not difficult to imagine the effects of a harsh dictator or the pain of a war. Saddam Hussein, and other corrupt leaders like him, caused much damage and tore apart the lives of a countless amount of people. Those with such total disregard for the rest of humanity have also been the cause of so many innocent people becoming refugees. Thankfully there are some, like Leila, who have managed to ultimately find happiness despite the terrible struggle to reach that point. But this isn’t always the case; even today many of these widows continue to sit and wait for the return of those Iraqi men. Will they ever find them? Will they ever find peace?

Works Cited
Daragahi, Borzou. "Lives of Some Kurdish Widows Frozen in Time." New York Times. New York Times, 9 Sep. 2007. Web. 28 Jan. 2010.

Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. "Legends Online." Photo District News. 1999. Web. 28 Jan. 2010.

So Many Thirsty Souls

Today I had a shower that lasted close to 20 minutes. I didn't need to take one this long, but the hot water was just too soothing for me to pass up. I had a pretty stressful day yesterday, so I awoke with the idea that I deserved a nice, warm shower to somehow make up for the previous day's troubles. Understandable, right? Well, needless to say, I didn't think twice or feel any shame for wasting a little water.

But when I saw this picture taken by Salgado, the shame kicked in. It shows an infant in Jakarta, Indonesia bathing himself in a bucket of water. And if this child's bucket-bath isn't enough to bring the waves of sympathy, it is also noted that the water he is using is "imported" - meaning there is no running water available. But a reliable water supply means much more than just luxury: without sufficient water supply, health is also at risk. The terrible situation in Haiti occurring right now illustrates this concept. "With further destruction of the water supply, the people of Haiti are going to be at increased risk of developing gastrointestinal diseases, food poisoning, as well as worsening of injuries sustained by those in high-risk groups like children and seniors" (Fiore).

Realistically speaking, those struggling in Haiti wouldn't have been affected any differently whether I took a 20 minute shower or skipped my shower altogether. But this doesn't mean we are completely useless in doing our part to help. An excellent place to find opportunities to give assistance in the current crisis in Haiti or other similar situations worldwide is LDS Philanthropies. There are many things we can do to help, and there are so many people in need of help. Let's do our part.

Works Cited
Fiore, Marrecca. "Doctor: Significant Long-Term Health Effects Expected in Haiti". Fox News.com. Fox News Network, 13 January 2010. Web. 21 January 2010.

Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. 362

Sebastiao Salgado

Photograph by Sebastiao Salgado

Look around you. Chances are you've got a pretty nice view: a decent amount of food, a comfy bed, a closet packed with warm clothes, a least a couple of pairs of shoes. Do you have a cell phone in your pocket at this very moment? Heck, if you're reading this right now, then you have some sort of access to a computer and the internet. Not too shabby, huh?

This is a photograph taken by Sebastiao Selgado. His book Migrations: Humanity in Transition is a collection of his photographs that capture the lives of refugees from 40 different countries. What his work reveals is the darker side to humanity -- from broken families and broken bodies to broken souls.

In this society, it's safe to say that a lot of us are really well off and live very comfortably. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own little bubbles of concern that we forget that there are indeed those out there who go through hardships and face incredible trials on a daily basis. While we may get upset because we misplaced the tv remote or our internet connection is slow, others in this world struggle to find somewhere warm to sleep each night. But I think this is the purpose of this weekly blog project: not to guilt-trip us, but to raise our awareness. In the introduction to his book Salgado stated, "We hold the key to humanity's future, but for that we must understand the present. These photographs show part of this present. We cannot afford to look away" (12). While these pictures may trouble us or even make us feel somewhat guilty for living lives so rich with comfort, the purpose of these is not to hurt but to heal. Hopefully we can all take something from this new-found awareness and somehow play our own part in healing the present to create a better future.


Works Cited
Salgado, Sebastiao. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. Print.

Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture. New York, 2000. 78

The Guitar - My Weapon of Choice

Thank goodness for music. More specifically, thank goodness for guitars. Who knew that some steel strings and a wooden box could create such a glorious creature? Whether you're in the mood for some folk-rock blues from Led Zeppelin, an energetic electric sound provided by MGMT, a simple, yet catchy rhythm filler that can be found in a Green Day song, or that feel-good warmth that only Jack Johnson creates, the guitar does it all. It's kind of like the pocket knife of music: equipped for any occasion.

Well if that didn't convince you of the greatness of the guitar, then just know that at least this blogger is convinced. Hence, this picture. I've been playing guitar since I was little, and I absolutely love it. It's just a good way to release that inner-self in the form of sweet, enchanting music.

"The art of music is ALSO one of the greatest blessings we enjoy. To cultivate it is our duty, and to use it is our privilege." - Dylan Lamb, with much credit respectfully given to Joseph Smith