FUD

As I mentioned when I first started this blog, it takes serious commitment to keep one going. Well, a lot has gone on since I started back in February of this year and I haven't had much in the way of time to post entries. Perhaps with today's entry I can get back into the habit and try to make at least one post a week. Hey... the only place to go is up right?

So with that it is now Saturday, July 24, 2010. Wow, where has the year gone! 2010 is half way to becoming a memory.

In any event, I've been an amateur photographer for many years. I went digital back in 2006 and 'round the same time began a photostream on Flickr. I created the photostream with the thought that I since I traveled so much, I could share what I'd seen while on the road with my wife and other interested parties. I felt that was what Flickr was intended to be... a photo sharing site. Well, as most things go Flickr too has developed a dark side by the actions of misguided users.

As I said, Flickr is a photo sharing site. Sharing pictures of an airshow, your dog/cat, a beautiful sunset or landscape. Sharing pictures with your friends and family. But a few (and I'm confident it is only a few) have elected to use Flickr as a means of expressing their political, and sometimes racial points of view.

Lately there have been many disturbing images posted regarding our current President. Now I'm all for free speech and the entitlement one has to their opinion. But comon' folks... he is our elected President and is due every respect that comes with the office. People should not be scouring the Internet for slanderous and libelous images of the President. But what they really should not be doing is then posting those images to 'their' photostreams. I mean isn't Flickr there for you to post images (PHOTOS) that 'YOU' took with a camera?!?! Needless to say I am struggling with people who post this S**T within 'their' photostreams. There are perhaps hundreds if not thousands of other sites, bulletin boards, chat rooms, and blogs for that kind of stuff. But I for one don't believe that is what Flickr was intended to be and than makes me sad. It makes me sad that I have to share my creativity on a site that has become a vehicle for rudeness, disrespect, and in some cases hate.

Now what makes this more of an affront is the fact that I will bet the majority of those who are posting this stuff have never experienced any of those things; I have. I have felt the sting of prejudice first hand. I have felt the sting of profiling first hand and I will tell you it is something that I wouldn't wish on anyone. It is both hurtful and just plain wrong. And it certainly is NOT Christian behavior. It is regretful that the previous administration took the terrible events of 9/11 and turned this country into a country of fear. They spread their dogma of Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt and have in my opinion weakened this great country. Because now instead of fearing what is really scary in the World, we fear each other. We're not gonna' get very far with that kind of thinking. In fact the fear looks to be turning to hate. Look at what is going on in Arizona.

So on that note I will leave you with your thoughts. I pray that we as a country can move beyond this and learn that, no more than the freeway, the world does not belong to you. It is meant to be shared. And stop sharing other peoples garbage on your Flickr photostreams. Show me what YOU can do with a camera.

As always I welcome your thoughts.