Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/15

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Subject: [Leica] Open message to M.J. Small (re: staged photos) longish
From: "Paul Schiemer" <schiemer@magicnet.net>
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 21:05:41 -0400

Marc James Small wrote in a private email to me:
>>> I am livid with rage.
>>> This is horse shit.
and later Mr. Small wrote this:
>Mr Schiemer

>I suggest you examine the phrase "cursed at".  As I stated, I have not
>"cursed at" you.  I have applied an appropriate description for your
>derogatory insults directed at brave men and at their memory.

>Trust me, should I ever choose to "curse at" you, the wording would be far
>more personal and far more intense.

>You have now earned a slot in my kill file, a unique place, incidentally,
>as I rarely resort to such.

>Marc

Since I'm in his kill file I guess this is the only thing to do, make the
matter public. (and woe is me I'm in a kill file, oh darn!)

I NEVER made ANY derogatory insults directed at brave men or at their
memory.  Something about Mr. Small insisting I did is perverse.

I said the photo was staged and, in a sense, it was. The clipping straight
from Mr. Rosenthal's recollection (posted earlier by Mr. D. Morton)
effectively states that (as well points out there has always been some
question about how the photo came about).
It's NOT about bravery, it's about photography. That's all. No one can
challenge those heroic Marines or their memory- it's a non issue.

We were discussing specific, award winning photos, and how they came about;
more so- the instant of the photograph. I merely said the 'staged Iwo Jima
flag raising photo' I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEROS WHO WERE RAISING
THE FLAG. I NEVER BESMURCHED THEIR MEMORY (not by asking about the
circumstances). It has nothing to do with them or their heroism. I'd
probably get more hate mail if I asked what kind of film Rosenthal used in
the Speed Graphic?

Later I apologized to the group for being ignorant on the specific details
of the photograph and for saying it was 'staged'.
In our private exchange on the matter I asked Mr. Small nicely to not
continue sending me messages on the matter (and stop cursing at me).

To distort this topic into some chest thumping diatribe is abhorrent.
I've always tried to be intelligent and articulate when I'm posting, and I
always admit when I've erred (as I have in this instance). But when I get
threatening, obscene mail regarding something that was a matter of general
discourse here on LUG- it transcends propriety. It is wholly uncalled for.
I've done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment, and I most certainly
NEVER said anything about the Marines.

I think we can learn a lesson from this (I have!) For one you don't know who
you are 'talking' to when you enter into 'conversations', and the LUG is not
an open forum for interchange (that was naive of me to believe otherwise).
Tread lightly for you know not what booby trap lurks ahead!

This marks the END of this THREAD. Please DO NOT continue it.
Don't send me any more mail on the matter privately either.
It's OVER MAN, or let's talk Leica <only> from here on out!

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