Saturday, August 23, 2014

National Geographic

For whatever reason, I have always loved the pictures National Geographic posts. Maybe it's because I love photography, or because I love traveling, or maybe it's because they are just down right amazing a lot of the time. I think it would be amazing to not only be able to see all of the unique places they go to but to be able to photograph and share those experiences with those who may not be able to do so themselves.

Here are just a few of the photos I've seen that were great!

Photo: A cracked lake bed in the Mojave Desert
 
Picture of children playing in the water of Tukad Unda Dam in Bali
 
Photo: Lightning strike over the city of Scottsdale
 
Picture of a funnel cloud over a cornfield in Minnesota
 
Picture of a girl riding a carousel in Wales
 
Photo: A herd of elephants in Kenya
 
Photo: An autumn vista
 
Photo: Health worker holding a child, India
 
 
 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Ferguson

The photos below feature some of the most unique signs I've seen across the media.

 

This kid should be in school not protesting on the streets.
Photo by Jimmy Bernhard, KSDK
 

FERGUSON, MO - AUGUST 19:  Demonstrators protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown on August 19, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9. Despite the Brown family's continued call for peaceful demonstrations, violent protests have erupted nearly every night in Ferguson since his death.  (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
There will never be any peace if we don't stop the violence.
Photo by Scott Olson, KSDK
 
FERGUSON, MO - AUGUST 14:  Demonstrators protest the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown on August 14, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer on August 9. Police in Ferguson have changed their procedure for dealing with the protests after being chastised for a heavy-handed approach which has resulted in four days of violence. Today three police cars and four officers on foot led the way during a protest march.
What happens if we find out Mike was the guilty one?
Photo by Scott Olson, KSDK
 
FERGUSON, MO - AUGUST 12:  Demonstrators protest the killing of teenager Michael Brown on August 12, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.
The officer would have acted the same way regardless of skin color.
Photo by Scott Olson, KSDK
 
The attention Ferguson is getting on the media.
 
 
I think that these photos could all be arranged in a circle. Without people protesting, there would be nothing for the media to report on. Once the protestors see they are getting the attention they want, they will continue to protest with the hopes of being featured on TV, the Internet, and other forms of social media. It's a chain, and until someone breaks it by ending the violence, it's going to continue going.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Ferguson Frenzy

We all have seen and heard about the recent events that have taken place in Ferguson, MO. This city seems so far away from those who live in the suburbs, like myself, but they are actually much closer to us than one may think.

I find it interesting how those who have been rioting, looting, and destroying the city of Ferguson are also some of the people who are saying there needs to be an end to police brutality. It is hard for me to understand how those who committing such acts of violence can expect police to NOT step in. Breaking into stores, such as QT, and stealing their merchandise and setting the store on fire is a crime. Assaulting officers is a crime. Shooting innocent people is a crime. So tell me again, how is the police's involvement in Ferguson being viewed as "police brutality" to some? If people in Ferguson weren't acting out violently then there would be no reason for the police to even be involved. Do people really think police officers are wanting to face the protests and riots for their own pleasure? Do people really think the officers want to potentially risk their own lives to the hate and violence that is going on in Ferguson at night? The police are trying to END the violence and PROTECT the innocent.

With that being said, there are people who are protesting peacefully, and bravo to those people because that is a step towards the justice they may feel they deserve. Violence is not, and never will be, the answer to our problems. It saddens me to see the media showing pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. related to this event because his protests were not like this one has been. His had a purpose to help the people as a whole.

The protests in Ferguson are about one man: Michael Brown. Did the people protesting even know Mike? Do they really CARE about this man who died? Personally, I don't think a majority even knew him. I think they think that protesting about this one particular shooting will benefit themselves personally. I think they think they know the whole story when they don't. I think they need to calm down, stop the violence, let the investigations continue, and allow the facts arise.

What happens if the facts show that the officer really did kill Mike in cold blood? Will the violence continue in Ferguson? Will the chaos end once an officer is behind bars? What happens if the facts show that Mike Brown really was assaulting the officer who shot him? Will the protests and violence continue? Will it stop? Will people think they resorted to violence to defend a man who was guilty?

Everyone needs to take a few steps back for a minute and reevaluate the reasons why they are getting involved with this situation. They need to make sure they are being respectful members of society while protesting whatever they are protesting. They also need to know what they are protesting.

Stop the violence. Promote protest for peace.