Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/06/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Group As an Englishman living very happily in Ireland, I'm all too aware of the need to tread very carefully as far as national and personal sensibilities are concerned. This little island has had - and continues to have - a very turbulent history. There are still fascinating old people around who will talk about their memories 1916 rising with a little encouragement. But you don't offer an opinion unless you're asked for it. That's even more true if they're talking about the civil war which followed the signing of the treaty which established the Irish Free State - even to this day there are families divided over this. And, of course, we're still seeing its reverberations in the continuing problems in the North. What's this got to do with the Group? Well let's put it this way: it's far easier to start a war than to stop one, and a lot gets destroyed in the process. Unless we're very careful, the whole character and purpose of this group is going to go down the drain, and I, for one, would be very sorry to see it happen. Many people in the Group have remarked that this is not a forum to parade personal animosities. I totally agree. On the contrary it's a meeting place where we can all discuss the finer points of photography via-a-vis the Leica in an objective and friendly way wherever in the world we live and whatever our own personal views on other matters may be. I've been a Leica user for over 30 years now, and I was delighted to find a civilised place on the Net where I could share experiences and call upon the considerable collective wisdom of the Group. That's how it was when I joined. That's the way it ought to be from now on. So, guys, can we let peace break out, consider all hatchets buried, and demonstrate to each other that we're all paid-up members of the human race whose primary interest (in this Group at least) is in getting the best out of some very fine cameras? BTW, you could all keep your fingers crossed over the Irish peace talks too. Slan Alex Alex Hurst Cork Florists 19 Winthrop St, Cork Republic of Ireland Tel: +353 21 270 907 Fax: +353 21 271 248 email: corkflor@iol.ie Website:http://www.iol.ie/bizpark/c/corkflor/index.html