Death Squads and the Leicas

Raid-
This world is a mystery, God's playground, one never knows what will happen from moment to moment. We have to have faith that the world is as it should be, otherwise we do not trust in God as wholly good. Amidst all the terrible things going on, this is hard to see..yet if we look deeply there is a Divine purpose for everything. rest in this, the world is good and the madness will stop....pray for your loved ones and do what you can, Its not a sin to own Leica's, but out of respect for those suffering, one should be moderate and not vain or wasteful...By showing the human values of peace, love and truth in your photography you will be making the world a better place🙂

Scott
 
raid,
i live in a country that has been on the brink of civil strife for some time now. the ingredients are all there. and so many of my countrymen have left the country fearing this. i try to contribute whatever i can to avert that disaster -- joining marches, signing position papers, exercising whatever civil liberties i still enjoy. but to give up my gear in spite of my amateur skills will be too painful (i'd sell something else first). 😀 in your case, it is criminal. you shoot great, raid. and that's enough reason to keep your gear. and your being iraqi (a citizen of one of, if not the, oldest civilizations on earth) makes me just want to stand up and cheer you on. and even if i were to wish iraq will achieve true freedom and sovereignty soon for everyone's sake, we all know this is an elusive dream ... so we march, we protest, we cry out for peace, or we do whatever we can ... even pray. and to keep sane and give hope, we try to capture the world as beautifully as we can through our rangefinders. and your gallery stands out as a panorama of what the world should be.
 
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Hi Raid. I sympathize with your dilema. All one can do is to push on and try to help your family still in Iraq, while still enjoying your freedom here. My family came to the U.S. after a pogrom and two world wars wiped out what was left. If not for my wife's family, I would essentially have none. My prayers are with you.
 
Raid,

I cannot comprehend the terror your family has faced. It is beyond what we should have to deal with. I sympathize with you and your family.

Don’t change your direction. One of the purposes of cameras and photography is to provide that mental and emotional relief to help keep you on an even keel in your anguished filled, trying circumstance

Several things are required of you. You have already done some of those. You have protected your family and yourself. You have explored how to extricate your relatives.

The remaining thing is to pursue justice. You cannot and probably should not use a gun. However you have two other weapons, your cameras and pen. Your images and words can provide hope, create smiles, and document the story. You can do that, and you can do it from Florida, where your family is safe. The one who makes peace in the heavens would want that of you to help make peace here.

I have given you free advice. Take it for what is cost.

Go from strength to strength my friend,
Lance
 
I feel that wiriting about what is going on is important, and one day maybe I can take photos of the situation. Not everybody is aware of the terrible life conditions in most of Iraq, south to the areas where the Iraqi Kurds live. Even though 98% of the Iraqi Kurds are Sunni, they are viewed as "different"and not counted as such.

Anyways, I promised myself to stay away from talking about politics here!

Photography may be a good way [if I am ever allowed] to peacefully contribute to understanding. Thanks again for your thoughtful comments.

Raid
 
Leica provided an underground train in Nazi Germany before the Second World War to jews, a way out of Germany. Ernst Leitz was one of the few who remained in Germany with the means and position to do what he could to help those who were profiled, singled out and marked by his government as its enemies.

Ever since I learned that piece of history, I've grown much less guilty about owning an old Leica. The only guilt left is when I shoot the Ramen noodles that could have been... 😉

Raid: prayers are with you and your family.
 
Raid you raise a very important question about yourself, your family and your love of photography. Reading through this thread of very open and heartfelt replies, i can only offer my sincere wishes to your family and hope that the situation will one day improve.

I think perhaps, you have answered your original question about your relationship to photography

raid said:
Photography may be a good way [if I am ever allowed] to peacefully contribute to understanding. Thanks again for your thoughtful comments.

Raid
Click to expand...

I do believe that through photography, public awareness is heightened and can sometimes be the catalyst for actions that can have a positive effect.
 
Raid,

Photography can be your best friend in times like these. I myself ran into some misfortune some 2 years ago; photography was the way I dealt with the world and I found it was therapeutic in the world where I had lost control.

Don't think for one second that your beautiful photos of your little girls don't bring a little happiness to your loved ones. Its amazing the comfort that can be brought by images of those closest to you.

I think we all are putting your family into our thoughts especially given the most recent trend of violence in Iraq. We all want peace in safety in that region.
 
There are few places online where I can talk about something as private as my family and where I can expect true concern and respectful responses as I get here on our fine photography website. Memphis added a thread on his Dad, and we see wonderful comments about Dads there.

Raid
 
Good news: My brother and his wife and kids along with my mother have managed to leave Baghdad to other countries for the time being.

Raid
 
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