A Picture is Worth a Thousand Lessons

Warning: Serious topic. Move on to the joke section if you’re not interested.

TaChit (shortcut for my aunt Tita Chit) shared a picture of a starving Sudanese kid. The boy was lunch for the vulture behind him. That photograph garnered the $10k, 1994 Pulitzer Prize for the photographer, Kevin Carter. Four months after receiving the award, Kevin Carter committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. I knew there had to be more to the story and this led me on a Rabbit Trail of tragic incidents.

POOR KEVIN
Kevin was the perfect photo journalist — he had the uncanny knack of being at the right place at the right time. He had many other award-winning photographs depicting political violence in Africa in the 90s. His best friend, Ken Osterbroek, another photographer, was shot dead right beside him. After winning the Pulitzer, people berated him for not helping the boy. He did shoo the vulture away but he didn’t feed the boy. His excuse was there were soldiers constantly guarding him not to interfere. Pounded by the barrage of ghastly, morbid images, he was probably numb to the core. After experiencing so much violence and human tragedy first hand the cancer of depression pushed Kevin to take his own life.

The dying boy was thankfully picked up by the UN and outlived Kevin. Yet only to die in 2007 due to the flu. The writer of the article pleaded for its readers to support their unbiased news agency because it wasn’t funded by some rich oligarch. So I looked at their top headlines. Lotsa news about the Trump indictment. Not a single news about the Biden bribery scandal nor of the politicization of the FBI. Hmmm…

SOBER LESSON
The story of Kevin and the little boy is tragic but the real tragedy is this broken world they left behind. There is a parallel to these events in the Old Testament. I’ve been studying the prophet Amos, and (like all the prophets of the OT) Amos shared the same doom and gloom message to the stubborn Jewish nation: “Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand!” In other words, change your sinful ways because the fulfillment of God’s will on the earth is happening right now so be sure to choose God’s side.

It reminded me of the depressing scene of Biff’s World in “Back to the Future 2” — the domino effect of one greedy mistake at an earlier time, transformed the once thriving community into a drug-infested, smoky, dangerous garbage dump. Come to think of it, our world today isn’t that far behind, is it?

HUMAN NATURE
When good times roll by, many of us forget about God. Most of us pray only when we are in need of something. When we get sick, we go to the doctor. The doctor tells us not to eat our favorite food. We go home. We eat healthy for a while and then we go back to our gluttonous habits. We have this notion that we can mold truth to our reality and our comfort zone. Actually, unless we decide to move away from our unhealthy habits, things will never get better. Unless we move closer to God, things will only get worse.

Don’t feel too bad. God (through Amos) blasted the Jews for their transgressions but he left them (and us) with a glimmer of hope at the very end of the book: God explained that after all the tragedy He will inflict on this ungrateful generation, all things will return to beauty for those who love Him. Definitely something we can look forward to.

But this is just me.

TGIF people!

Raoul

“Yet I will not totally destroy the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord. — Amos 9:8

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Sandra of La Habra, CA

“And I will always love you” excerpt video.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

I found these

Sweet Dreams are Made of These

The Traveling Boy

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

The post Whitney’s Riddle appeared first on Traveling Archive.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a classic 1960 novel that delves into the complexities of racial injustice and the moral conscience of a small Southern town.

Published in 1960, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book continues to captivate readers with its compelling characters, powerful themes, and thought-provoking narrative. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, the story unfolds through the eyes of Scout Finch, lawyer Atticus Finch’s young daughter, growing up in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Through Scout’s innocent yet perceptive viewpoint, Lee offers profound insights into the human condition, challenging readers to confront their own prejudices and embrace empathy.

The novel begins with Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and learn valuable lessons about compassion, integrity, and the destructive nature of prejudice. As the story progresses the story shifts around Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man named Tom Robinson falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell.

The events lead to tension as the trial unfolds, highlighting the deep-rooted racism and inequality prevalent in Maycomb in the 60s. Despite overwhelming evidence of Tom’s innocence, the biased jury delivers a guilty verdict, highlighting the pervasive nature of prejudice in society. Through Atticus’ unwavering commitment to justice, the novel presents a powerful critique of the flawed legal system and the social barriers that hinder progress. A topic even more timely today.

In parallel to the trial, Scout and Jem experience the cruel realities of racism firsthand. They befriend a reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, who becomes a symbol of misunderstood innocence. The children’s gradual realization of the complexities of their community challenges their own prejudices and shapes their understanding of empathy and compassion.

Themes and Symbolism

“To Kill a Mockingbird” tackles a multitude of timeless themes, primarily exploring racial injustice, social inequality, and the loss of innocence. Lee uses the symbol of the mockingbird to convey the idea of innocence destroyed by prejudice. Atticus advises Scout and Jem that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they provide nothing but joy through their song. Similarly, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are metaphorical mockingbirds, innocent victims of society’s prejudice and cruelty.

The novel also addresses the theme of moral courage, as embodied by Atticus Finch. Despite facing overwhelming odds and condemnation from the townspeople, Atticus fearlessly defends Tom Robinson, guided by his unwavering sense of right and wrong. Through Atticus, Lee emphasizes the importance of standing up for justice and challenging societal norms, even in the face of adversity.

Impact and Significance

“To Kill a Mockingbird” remains an influential and thought-provoking work of literature that continues to resonate with readers across generations. Lee’s nuanced portrayal of characters, including the fiercely independent Scout, the compassionate Atticus, and the mysterious Boo Radley, enables readers to connect with their struggles and triumphs. The novel’s exploration of racial injustice, empathy, and the loss of innocence encourages introspection and raises important questions about societal norms and the pursuit of justice.

Beyond its literary merits, “To Kill a Mockingbird” has also had a profound impact on American society. It played a significant role in shaping conversations about race and social equality during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and continues to inspire discussions about systemic racism and the importance of empathy in today’s society.

The court scene of the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Who Was Harper Lee?

Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, the youngest of four children. Her father, A.C. Lee, was a lawyer who once defended two black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. Both father and son were hanged.

Lee developed a passion for English literature while enrolled at Monroe County High School, under the guidance of her teacher, Gladys Watson, who became her mentor. After graduating in 1944, Lee attended the University of Alabama where she wrote for the university newspaper, followed by a summer school program, “European Civilisation in the Twentieth Century,” at Oxford University in England.

In 1949, Lee made her way to New York City where she first worked at a bookstore, then as an airline reservation agent—while writing in her spare time. Eight-years later, the now 31-year-old Lee delivered a manuscript, “Go Set a Watchman” to the Lippincott publishing house who eventually bought it. At Lippincott, the novel fell into the hands of Tay Hohoff. Hohoff was impressed, and felt “The spark of the true writer flashed in every line”, but saw the manuscript not ready publication, describing it as “more a series of anecdotes than a fully conceived novel.” Lee wrote a series of drafts under Hohoff’s guidance, who later described the process: “After a couple of false starts, the story-line, interplay of characters, and fall of emphasis grew clearer, and with each revision—there were many minor changes as the story grew in strength and in her own vision of it—the true stature of the novel became evident. “Go Set a Watchman” achieved its finished form and was retitled “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Lee opted to use the name “Harper Lee” rather than risk having her first name Nelle be misidentified as “Nellie.”

I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers, but at the same time I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement. Public encouragement. I hoped for a little, as I said, but I got rather a whole lot, and in some ways this was just about as frightening as the quick, merciful death I’d expected.

— Harper Lee, 1964.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” was published July 11, 1960, was an immediate bestseller and won great critical acclaim, including the 1961 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.

In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded Lee the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the United States government for “outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts.”

Nelle Harper Lee died in her sleep on the morning of February 19, 2016, aged 89, Monroeville, Alabama.

The post To Kill a Mockingbird: A Timeless Tale of Prejudice and Courage appeared first on Traveling Archive.