Apology of photo posting

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biomed

biomed

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I apologize to all who were offended by the recent posting of an image in the RFF gallery. It was not intended as a political or personal statement nor did it convey my approval or support of the associated tragic and unforgettable events brought about by the Nazi regime. The world suffered the loss of the potential greatness of generations of the peoples so cruelly exterminated. I intended the photograph as a study of light and form. I ask for the forgiveness of my RFF friends and anyone else who may have been offended for my lack of sensitivity. I would appreciate it if this thread is taken for what it iss and does not turn into a long battle of words.

Thank you,
Mike Murphy
 
back alley said:
no worries on my part...
did someone take offense? too bad...
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Calzone said:
No foul or need to apologize to me.

Atrocities continue and continue to happen all around us unfortunately.

Cal
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I did need to apologize. The inclusion of the swastika in my photograph was not a vital part of the composition. In retrospect it appeared more "in your face". While this may not have been offensive to everyone, it did offend some. The photo was not intended to be political or philosophical statement, but merely a study of light and shapes. This action was not a matter of being political correct, censorship or violation of my rights. It was a matter of respect for the feelings of others.

Mike
 
Bless you for willingness to apologize, Mike; it rarely comes easily to anyone, but doing it with an open heart is healthy and healing.

For my part, I wonder--if the images to which you allude happened to be those of the Messerschmitt or Focke-Wulf aircraft--why any rational photographer would take offense at images of vintage aircraft long removed from their military purpose? By the same token, all images of Leica IIs & IIIs, Ikontas, Rolleis etc. from 1933-1945 should be banned from RFF! And so on,

If I have the photographs wrong (for which you apologe), my bad. My father flew a P47 in the 9th Air Force--mostly attacking German supply trains in France 1944), deplored Nazism, but admired the aircraft his enemies flew. His and my Long family forebears emigrated from Trier in 1732, when they were Langs. He bombed and strafed Trier in 1945 but took a sentimental visit there late in life for complex reasons. A rational mind can hold these things in balance; an ideological mind must always symbolize "The Enemy" in whatever form, and must never forget. Let the ideologues fight amongst themselves--they always will--, and as far as old aircraft and cameras are concerned, let the dead bury the dead, and photographs the subject you love.
 
biomed said:
I did need to apologize. The inclusion of the swastika in my photograph was not a vital part of the composition. In retrospect it appeared more "in your face". While this may not have been offensive to everyone, it did offend some. The photo was not intended to be political or philosophical statement, but merely a study of light and shapes. This action was not a matter of being political correct, censorship or violation of my rights. It was a matter of respect for the feelings of others.

Mike
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Some people make quite a point of putting their sensitive feelings on parade.

I did not see your photo - assuming the swastika was not made by you but was an existing part of the scene, I cannot imagine what you are apologizing for. One RFF member (sorry, the screen name escapes me) has done stunning work recording the activities of a white supremacist group - I did not imagine for a moment that he was promoting their ideas.

Randy
 
zauhar said:
Some people make quite a point of putting their sensitive feelings on parade.


Randy
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For some profound reading read "The Swastika Poems" by William Heyden. This poet was just a little boy during WWII and his father was a German immigrant who happened to work in the Brooklyn Navy Yard building ships.

Regardless Swastika's were removed by his father repeatedly from their front door and this poet was profoundly scared and felt tremendous guilt for the genocide and was compelled to process the experience by visiting the death camps as an adult and poet.

Cal
 
biomed said:
I apologize to all who were offended by the recent posting of an image in the RFF gallery. It was not intended as a political or personal statement nor did it convey my approval or support of the associated tragic and unforgettable events brought about by the Nazi regime. The world suffered the loss of the potential greatness of generations of the peoples so cruelly exterminated. I intended the photograph as a study of light and form. I ask for the forgiveness of my RFF friends and anyone else who may have been offended for my lack of sensitivity. I would appreciate it if this thread is taken for what it iss and does not turn into a long battle of words.

Thank you,
Mike Murphy
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I didn't see it but am also sure you never intended to hurt feelings.
 
Mike, I'm not aware of the photo you posted. I'm sure you meant no offence and I feel you're removal of it shows consideration for those it did offend and I applaud that.
This weekend, close to where I live, a WWII weekend is being held as it has been done for a number of years. There's the usual military vehicles on show, a flypast and people dressed as both civilian and military personnel from the era. Ive attended sometimes and theres plenty of photo opps to be had. However, after complaints last year it has now decided to ban some of the symbols on the German officers uniforms eg swastikas, SS symbol etc.
While I know that horrific events occurred during the war I'm not sure that historic details should be altered. It's not done at Civil War, Wild West re-enactments.
One thing I did find over the top was when last year a Jewish couple were asked to dress up as refugees. Now that is offensive.
 
there is a poster i have seen that says...when did talking about race become a racist act?

i can understand people being offended to a certain point...but if we have to bury our heads in the sand because of it then i think it's a bit much...
 
back alley said:
there is a poster i have seen that says...when did talking about race become a racist act?

i can understand people being offended to a certain point...but if we have to bury our heads in the sand because of it then i think it's a bit much...
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poster is very wise
 
back alley said:
i can understand people being offended to a certain point...but if we have to bury our heads in the sand because of it then i think it's a bit much...
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+1 Joe. Another case of the lowest common denominator dictating what is acceptable. Don't like the picture? Don't bookmark it. And don't deprive those less fragile than yourself of an experience they might get something from.
 
Haven't seen the photos, but I do not think that denial is a good idea when it comes to the dark parts of history. When I visited Munich a couple of years ago I was actually a bit shocked to see that all signs of WWII had been removed completely; modern Luftwaffe insignia on the Messerschimtts and the F-Ws - even in the toy museum the little tin soldiers had been scrubbed with sandpaper to remove any sign of the past. Not so when I went to Berlin last year - here history is very much present. In my book, letting the history be known is the same as taking responsibility. But we could of course also ban hammer and sickle in the FSU section...

And just for the record: My father was a courier for the Danish Resistance. He lost friends in KZ camps and those who lived to tell the tale were often marked for life - I talked to several of them when I was in my teens and early twenties, and heard their stories; neither of them wanted history to be forgotten.
 
Justifying the content of an image (within reason) shouldn't necessary IMO.

But ... hats off for doing so. 🙂
 
I live in the Deep South, Georgia. I thought we had came a long way and racism was not a big issue until Obama won the election, boy were my eyes opened. It's alive and well. I see and hear it everyday.
 
Mike -

It was manly of you to step up in response to whatever evidence you found that you had hurt peoples' feelings.

When I viewed the photo the swastika jumped off the page at me...but I was surprised it was still part of an exhibit, not that you photographed it.

I don't think any apology was needed in this case. If there isn't an occasional reminder of atrocities, we will be more likely to forget them and repeat them. What happened happened and scrubbing walls and photos will not change that - certainly leaving them in a photo does not signify support of them.
 
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