RE: [Leica] Lest we forget!

["bdcolen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

I thought this thread had been officially ended by the Owner.

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of
Teresa299@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 3:33 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Lest we forget!



In a message dated 4/13/03 9:09:15 AM, kenlass@gate.net writes:

<< This is in response to Don R's message.  I must wonder if he has ever

been to France and especially to Normandy.
.......

It is my observation that the average American who berates the French 
for being ungrateful has never been to  France.  Or if they have been, 
they went on a bus tour with Americans where they never had the 
opportunity to speak directly with real Frenchmen.  

One should not judge what a people think and say just by what one reads 
in the newspaper or sees on TV.  It makes better news copy if the 
reporter can put a negative spin on things.  

I would like to hear from others on the LUG who have had good 
experiences in France and other European countries.-- while 
photographing with their Leicas.

Ken Lassiter
Boynton Beach, FL
 >>

Ken,

I'm glad you brought this up, as I wanted to but didn't want to keep the

nasty part of the thread going.

It seems like French bashing (which has to a certain extent always been
an am erican and particularly a conservative american sport) has taken
new heights 
these last few months.

My experience with the French has been nothing more than positive.  In
paris, 
I didn't find people anymore snobby or rude then I did in parts of
London NY 
SF or Los Angeles.   In the countryside, I found that the regions of
France 
has as varied a personality as the states are in the US.  Maybe it was 
because I sought out certain places with specific intent (as in farmers,

because I'm into heirloom seeds, photographers because of photography, 
gardens because I love garden design), the people there were genuine, 
friendly and willing to share.  And I didn't speak a wit of French.
(well I 
thought I did but once I got there it became clear that I might as well
have 
spoken Martian).

Anyway, that ws unfortunately over 15 years ago, maybe things have
changed, 
but when I hear folks talking about "the stinky french, the arrogant
french, 
the rude french, the ungrateful french," I've got to wonder if any of
those 
folks have been there.  If they have I'm sorry they had such a bad time
of 
it, but maybe part of travelling to another place is the intent you
bring 
with you in your heart.

Personally, I'd love to go to France (and the UK ,hell I've never been
to 
Canada yet) and this time take some decent camera gear, Leica or not.
When I 
went the first time I went on a shoestring because I was really supposed
to 
be going to school and all my $ went to living expenses.  So as a result
all 
I had was a cheap point and shoot that died on me after my first week in

England.  Sigh.  I wasn't "into" photography then like I am now but my
coming 
back to CA without but a few photos made a huge impact on me.    I can't

really put into words coming back without my photographs any better than
a 
French, Leica user did....

"....Photographic representation is, alas, never faithful to the
sentiment 
that triggered it, but imperfect as it is, it is a naive attempt to
postpone 
death, to steal from time a fall of light, a priviliged moment, 
which will never again recur, but will continue to live thanks to the 
photograph - like those 
stars that have been dead for thousands of years but whose light still 
travels through space 
to show us what they were.
- - Jeanloup Sieff.


Kim
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