WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL

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You have caught a little bit of the American myth in this picture. This is how we picture ourselves, a bright, homespun people who value the simple things in life. We cling to that image in the face of overwhelming and contradictory evidence.

I think the bright fresh looking flag combined with the warn out beat up structure pretty much tells the story. It's all such a sad sham. Form trumps substance is our modus operandi. This country has been living off of its past glory for a long time now. The sad thing is there are so many who still don't see it. I suspect their slogan might well be, "God bless America."

A helluva sad and telling shot, Dave. Bad times. Good image. (This might also be compelling and very stark in B&W.) Regards...

As always, I'm very appreciative of your looking and commenting. Sorry to be so negative in outlook, but I think as humans we have an obligation to seek answers (even where there are none) and to speak our minds. I try to let my images do the talking, but sometimes I throw in a word or two.

Well David, you certainly seem to do well when it comes to letting your images speak volumes... An old house in a rather sorry state, with a brand new Stars & Strips flying about in the wind... A bit sad indeed. Great job!

 

Best regards,

Frank

We're living in such confusing times. That shabby house speaks of faded glory. And then Old Glory waves on above the decay. This speaks of complicated patriotism and of longing for something different than is. A bold statement.

Thanks. I would hope that my images speak volumes, but, alas, sometimes all I hear are weak sighs. Fellow Pnetter Mike Marcotte has for his bio the following, "Someday I hope to make a photograph that matters." That profound statement is about the most perfect summation of my own desires that I have ever seen.

I know we may be of different political persuasions. To me that tattered flag is as representative of our democracy and that house is of our political system. Difference, is the flag has a false crispness that belies its real condition. Sort of a grand painted old lady, who, from a distance, still seems quite pretty, but when approached, is shockingly wrinkled and feeble.

 

 

As a French citizen, I don't feel the right to talk too much about this, so let me just say that this is a very interesting picture and title. It is always a pleasure discovering your photographs as well as the way you present them, David. You always suggest things that give us food for thought with great tolerance and freedom. Cheers.

Thanks again. I understand your reticence to speak too much given the childish reaction of so many of my fellow Americans toward the French, because they had the good sense to not send their troops to Iraq, and to not support such stupidity. From purely my personal standpoint, please feel free to say whatever you wish. Thanks for your visit, I always enjoy your comments, as well as your photos.

Wonderful,much of America looks like this,the greatest democracy in the world, and yet few Americans know what is being done in their name.Now that your election is coming up it will be funny to see if they will once again choose a dim witted intellectually challenged fruit cake.You have caught the essence of americana here.

Thanks. I agree with you completely. And those who do know what is going on, seem to fall into two categories. Those who are powerless to change it, and those who profit from it.