Boston Tragedy and conspiracies abound...
SO here we are, one day after the Boston Marathon Bombing and everyone is up in arms about the details and drills and loss of life, injuries, and photos.
Now I'm going to say, this event hits me right in my camera. No, I was not there, but a few sports photojournalists were attending and covering for their respective agencies. The tightening of my chest and tension in my neck and back were instant as I received a forwarded copy of details from one of my colleague's wives, to let us all know they were okay, unharmed, and still shooting the aftermath.
The email was quite personal so I'm not going to quote, but I will say in between doing his job, he grabbed anyone he came across that needed help and did what needed to be done, forgetting the 30 + lbs of camera gear strung across his upper body.
Now I'm seeing twitter and facebook conspiracy theorists call out the government for planting the bombs to raise a police state, theories of creating fear and distrust so they can take control. Keep in mind, we all have free speech for a reason and I'd like you all, if you have any negative comments... keep it civil, intelligent, and informed. There are very young people that read my words as well.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and just say it. This is highly unlikely to be a conspiracy plot. If it is, I'll be the first to admit but I really do have to say this out loud and clearly.
What would be the outcome if the news stations, government, and local authorities announced that there was a meteor heading straight for your town. Do you think that there would be a straight orderly line up out of town? Do you think that your neighbours, that you've never spoken to in the 10 years you've lived in that town would lend you their spare car, water, food, medical supplies? No... that's definitely not what would happen. It would be absolute chaos and serious death and injury would result long before the meteor ever hit the atmosphere. Human beings are pre-programmed by DNA to fight or flight. Not everyone has the basic emotional rational control to stay calm and think. They would run, there would be survival of the fittest. There would be stampedes, looting, and irrational behaviour.
The police, fire, and government would not likely announce a bomb threat in crowds of a 100,000+ plus. That would be stupid and cause more destruction and death than the actual bombs. They would do their best to find the bombs and clear the areas affected with as little public knowledge as possible, especially if they don't know who the bombers are, or where they are. In the general public, I can see this would anger you, but it was likely necessary to keep the public from panic.
Not everyone has a calling to save lives, even their own family. In fact over half of the worlds population will save themselves first knowing it was a choice between them or their child. Ask the people who save lives for a living what they've seen.
No, there was not a conspiracy theory. It was some incredibly brave emergency responders trying to keep everyone safe, walking among the crowd, knowing they will not be able to save everyone if they don't find the explosives fast enough. Imagine knowing that and having to keep your mouth shut so people don't trample their fellow crowd members to death.
And I reiterate... take a day to think about your response before you comment in anger or rebuttal. I had to sleep on this before I wrote it.
As for me and my camera, I am happy to be here at home in Calgary today. I am alive and breathing, and I can take pictures tomorrow, but I have faced death many times and I am still here. Happy to be here too.
Don't forget to check your Compass.
Cole
SO here we are, one day after the Boston Marathon Bombing and everyone is up in arms about the details and drills and loss of life, injuries, and photos.
Now I'm going to say, this event hits me right in my camera. No, I was not there, but a few sports photojournalists were attending and covering for their respective agencies. The tightening of my chest and tension in my neck and back were instant as I received a forwarded copy of details from one of my colleague's wives, to let us all know they were okay, unharmed, and still shooting the aftermath.
The email was quite personal so I'm not going to quote, but I will say in between doing his job, he grabbed anyone he came across that needed help and did what needed to be done, forgetting the 30 + lbs of camera gear strung across his upper body.
Now I'm seeing twitter and facebook conspiracy theorists call out the government for planting the bombs to raise a police state, theories of creating fear and distrust so they can take control. Keep in mind, we all have free speech for a reason and I'd like you all, if you have any negative comments... keep it civil, intelligent, and informed. There are very young people that read my words as well.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and just say it. This is highly unlikely to be a conspiracy plot. If it is, I'll be the first to admit but I really do have to say this out loud and clearly.
What would be the outcome if the news stations, government, and local authorities announced that there was a meteor heading straight for your town. Do you think that there would be a straight orderly line up out of town? Do you think that your neighbours, that you've never spoken to in the 10 years you've lived in that town would lend you their spare car, water, food, medical supplies? No... that's definitely not what would happen. It would be absolute chaos and serious death and injury would result long before the meteor ever hit the atmosphere. Human beings are pre-programmed by DNA to fight or flight. Not everyone has the basic emotional rational control to stay calm and think. They would run, there would be survival of the fittest. There would be stampedes, looting, and irrational behaviour.
The police, fire, and government would not likely announce a bomb threat in crowds of a 100,000+ plus. That would be stupid and cause more destruction and death than the actual bombs. They would do their best to find the bombs and clear the areas affected with as little public knowledge as possible, especially if they don't know who the bombers are, or where they are. In the general public, I can see this would anger you, but it was likely necessary to keep the public from panic.
Not everyone has a calling to save lives, even their own family. In fact over half of the worlds population will save themselves first knowing it was a choice between them or their child. Ask the people who save lives for a living what they've seen.
No, there was not a conspiracy theory. It was some incredibly brave emergency responders trying to keep everyone safe, walking among the crowd, knowing they will not be able to save everyone if they don't find the explosives fast enough. Imagine knowing that and having to keep your mouth shut so people don't trample their fellow crowd members to death.
And I reiterate... take a day to think about your response before you comment in anger or rebuttal. I had to sleep on this before I wrote it.
As for me and my camera, I am happy to be here at home in Calgary today. I am alive and breathing, and I can take pictures tomorrow, but I have faced death many times and I am still here. Happy to be here too.
Don't forget to check your Compass.
Cole
