-
Archives
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- May 2011
- March 2011
- November 2010
- October 2010
- August 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- April 2003
- March 2003
- January 2003
- December 2002
- November 2002
- October 2002
- September 2002
- August 2002
-
Meta
I think that I see Joe the Plumber there; two rows to the front.
Didn’t others already point out the problems with using that picture?
It’s good for making the point that only naive kids/youth support Obama.
It’s also good for making the point that we care about kids while the other side does not, which no reasonable person would believe.
OR did you have some other point in mind????
I was expecting the usual, “success has a thousand fathers,” we did it speech.
The interesting thing about a photograph and art in general is that a piece gets put out in to public view and everyone interprets it under their own precondition. Is this photo taken to show that only naive children are Obama supporters or was it to show the power of youth even if they aren’t allowed to vote or was it taken because I had been sitting on a metal bleacher for more than an hour and thought, “hey, that’s a cool shot.” I never expected it to get the legs that is has and I have had several people voice positive and negative reactions to the photo. I welcome any interpretation because it helps others see different meanings in the photograph.
So, Steve & John.. Sure, it shows a naive and/or brainwashed child to you. But to others it could signify something more.
Steve, John, you should just both go away.
What this picture shows is future generations supporting the new president. The man who can lead us into the 21st century.
Let go of the “old rich white man” syndrome and join us.
All I can say is that John McCain himself gave an entirely gracious concession speech that would serve as a terrific example for his disciples.
After two years of being inhabited by imposters (including the hellspawn of Atwater/Rove: Schmidt), perhaps the senator from Arizona will finally find his best stride back in the senate where he belongs.
Let’s Move On. The future will wait no longer for us. It is here, and it is now, and it is full of hope once more.
That’s what that picture is all about.
PS: Can we finally put the last nails in the coffin of Voodoo Economics, once and for all?
Joe,
I didn’t read too much into the photo. I just think it’s an amazingly good shot.
Wow. You people need to stop arguing over this picture. He’s obviously not even a kid. Look how high he stands above everyone else in the crowd. He is obviously much older and more mature (physically and intellectually) than everyone else in the room.
Joe: It’s an amazing good and cool shot which I and most have no problem with. The problem is when people like Lessig try to use it (twice) for a political message when a similar picture could have been taken at a McCain or any other (football) rally and virtually no kids that age are mature or educated enough to be politically well informed. Perhaps Lessig is extending the, “wisdom of crowds,” to the, “wisdom of kids.”
>>From Steve Baba: “The problem is when people like Lessig try to use it (twice) for a political message when a similar picture could have been taken at a McCain or any other (football) rally and virtually no kids that age are mature or educated enough to be politically well informed.”>>
I don’t think Mr. Lessig means to suggest, “Even this child has enough political awareness to support Obama over McCain!” I think we can agree that, if this boy were raised by Republican parents, he would just as eagerly be holding a McCain sign.
I believe Mr. Lessig is more interested in the symbolic value of the photo. What does it depict? A solemn-faced youth rising up above a crowd of casual and smirking adults, to support a cause that he believes in.
Like it or not, there are real commonalities between this picture and Mr. Obama’s campaign. Mr. Obama is young. His supporters are young. Mr. Obama is solemnly idealistic, and has distinguished himself even from fellow Democrats by his refusal to “fight dirty” and his determination to root out corruption in the political process. He is the “solemn-faced child.” His fellow Congress members are the older, casual-faced, smirking crowd: casual to the corrupt status quo by long exposure, and smirking that anyone would question it.
Perhaps this photo says, “The spirit of youth is to solemnly believe that something is right and strive for that, rather than settle for the smarmy, ends-driven, self-interested compromises that have dominated politics for so long.” Mr. Obama showed such integrity when, rather than condemn Rev. Wright, he gave his More Perfect Union speech. Or perhaps the photo is not about the nature of youth, but rather the fact that our youth are not going to settle for the corrupt politics of generations past. Certainly, photographs of the crowds at Mr. Obama’s speeches against corruption bear out this vision of our youth. Either way, this photo resonates deeply with Mr. Obama, his campaign, and his stated ideals.
Say, have you seen these images? They’re kinda similar to the one you posted.
http://www.aprilwinchell.com/2008/11/05/tuesday/
@Michael Allen
How can a kid that young conceptualize what makes a good president? Come on now, he’s just doing what his parents told him to do.
I do trust all of the ideas you have presented for your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too brief for newbies. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.