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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Picture of the Day















Iraqis gather around a pool of blood left behind following a bomb blast in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City. (AFP/Wissam Al-Okaili)

posted by mikevotes at 6:02 AM

8 Comments:

  • If you have read Kapucinski's "Shaw of Shaws" you might remember when he described the curious manner in which (in this case Iranians) react to the sight of blood. It is like a magnet for them whereas it repels and repulses the typical westerner.

    Just reminded me of the book.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 2:50 AM  

  • No, I've never even heard of that.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 7:47 AM  

  • You should look up Kapucinski. Polish correspondent always happened to be where the revolutions took place. I think he covered about 20 different revolutions. Of course in '79 he was in Iran and the book, "The Shaw of Shaws" is a masterpiece.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 11:26 AM  

  • The photo evokes images of Biblical curses.

    "The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over the streams and canals, over the ponds and all the reservoirs'-and they will turn to blood. Blood will be everywhere in Egypt, even in the wooden buckets and stone jars."

    In fact, the entire War on Iraq™ can be viewed as a Biblical tale... The hubris of an arrogant king who invokes the name of God in vain self-glory.

    By Blogger -epm, at 12:58 PM  

  • Interesting Praguetwin, I'll do a little looking.

    EPM,

    I've always viewed it more as a greek tragedy with Tennessee Williams type characters. It echoes the Greek tragedy in that the flaws that lead to downfall were predictable and visible from the first act, hubris, "delegation"/detachment, incuriousity, and yet, unlike the Greek charcters, they are not heroes with a single flaw, but instead individuals whose flaws have woven themselves into every aspect of character.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 1:58 PM  

  • Ryszard Kapuściński.

    Sorry about the spelling, I was spelling in Czech.

    The book is of course "Shah of Shahs".

    Sorry about the spelling on that one. Stupid American.

    I posted about it here. There are a couple of quotes from the book that I transcribed.

    Worth a read, and easy to get.

    For news junkie revolutionaries, he is the man.

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 2:49 PM  

  • Mike,

    I think you're right; a Greek tragedy is much more apropos. Good observation. I'll have to pull out my Sophocles tonight...

    I was reacting to the image of a "river" of blood and Bush's constant evocation (or inference, or allusions) of being on a divine mission.

    By Blogger -epm, at 4:00 PM  

  • Thanks Praguetwin, I'll check it out.

    EPM, I think we can just agree it's a tragedy, perhaps of all types.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 11:16 PM  

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