Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 10:51 02/12/1998 -0600, Bud Cook wrote: >However, after all the prior comments about Oddmund Garvik and his >initial political/morality posts I also routed Mr. Garvik's posts to the >Trash. I've since discovered that this was a mistake because I've found >that Oddmund makes some interesting observations about photography. Thank you for finally reading my messages, and not falling in the trap of prejudice. >If Mr. Garvik and others would simply state their political opinions as >if they were opinions rather than fact then I probably wouldn't be so >negative about the huge stretch some people are making to associate >one's photography with some kind of political statement or agenda. I never state my opinions as if they were facts. Where do you get that from? If I am stating facts, it is facts. For instance, if I am telling you that a little less than 4% of the accumulated wealth/fortune of the 225 richest individuals in the world would cover basic needs for the whole humanity (health, education, food), IT IS A FACT. In the Annual UN report about the state of the world we also read that these 225 fortunes altogether represent 1000 billion dollars, the equivalent of the total annual income of 47% of the poorest in the world, i.e. 2,5 billion people. This, among many other similar facts, is the basis for my appraisements, and finally for my photography. I'm not busy with labels (communist, socialist, anarchist, humanist), I was just hit by a rage at an early age, and this rage have been pushing all my action since. Studies and experience have strengthened the revolt. I am not mad, not special, I am exceedingly normal and sane. Revolting against injustice and obvious lies is normal, and has been one of the driving forces in history. Not having sense of justice, not revolting against evident lies is anormal, and for me unacceptable. I am taking my old Leica in hand with this rage, and I hope that somewhere, or somehow my images might move someone, at least a few, and push them into reflection. I am writing with the same idea. Trying to stop me is useless. Preventing the thought is impossible. It would be like trying to stop the rain. Oddmund