This image was taken during the Sandy hurricane. I remember seeing them for the first time, and they made an impact at the first glance, but now seem to have a whole new meaning to me.
I'm sure we've all heard the devastation that occurred on Friday in Newtown, Connecticut. I don't usually post such political views, even though I'm sure my words mean nothing to most - But it's my blog, and I'll cry if I want to...
This series by Jacrot made such an impact visually, as what we normally associate NYC as the strongest city in the world, but hit hard by Sandy, it was left defenceless and weak. Something unnerving to most people. It's like seeing your lifelong Hero being knocked out by your childhood enemy. (Although I was hugely annoyed that the media put all the emphasis on NY, when actually so many other parts of America, and especially Cuba that were hugely effected. But who cares about little ol' Cuba ey? Bloody media). The bright lights of America, faded...
The recent news of the Sandy Hook School in Connecticut today made me cry. My Twitter, Facebook and even real life people have been constantly filling my timelines and ears about the devastation, and today seeing the sweet little faces of the children who had their lives taken away in a split second, broke my heart.
This story has rilled up one of the age old questions of gun laws in America. And so it should. I can't help but see the correlation between gun crime in schools, and America. Actually, gun crime in general, and America. You only have to look at statistics to realise how backwards their system is. Last year handguns killed 8 in Britain, 52 in Canada and 10,728 in America. Doesn't take a genius, does it?
It seems to be clear that there is a desperate need to change these laws. I'm sorry but bollocks to your "constitutional right", what about the right for children to have the entitlement to their education without fear or worry about being gunned down at any given moment. When I was in school the biggest thing I had to worry about was my nasty French teacher if I hadn't done my homework, not being massacred.
I'm doubtful that anything positive will come from this horrible disaster. Any change would be revolutionary to America, and of course, difficult. Especially with all those right-winged gun lovers, but most sensible people know change is the right thing. But whether or not America is sensible, and brave enough for change, is another question. Maybe one day mental health care will become freely available in America, and guns, less available, rather than the other way around. Sigh.
Jacrot captured NYC in darkness. But for now, I see the whole of America as living in the dark, and until gun laws are changed there, I can't see the light at the end of the American tunnel anymore.
My thoughts are with all those effected.
Fx
Christophe Jacrot Website http://christophejacrot.com/
More reading - http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/12/newtown-and-the-madness-of-guns.html?mbid (via @aaronpaul_8 )
More reading - http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/12/newtown-and-the-madness-of-guns.html?mbid (via @aaronpaul_8 )
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