This is an apolitical blog.
That said, I think everyone should see
<a href=” http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/08/21/arts/20070822_BERMAN_SLIDESHOW_6.html “_blank”>this</a>.
Today was a day of petty annoyances. But it began with this image, from the morning paper.
The petty annoyances are forgotten. This photo, along with the others, should not be.
God Bless them.
And God Bless the bride.
Oh my goodness, I saw that this morning. What an expression on her face. What was going through her mind? What was going through his? What are they doing now?
It may be the defining photo of the entire war.
We all have so little to complain about.
People had an article on them a while back (I’m pretty sure it was before I moved to Baltimore, so last summer maybe?) and it was just the coolest story (except, obviously, for the part where he got so horribly injured). But still, how many young girls would stay with someone who got hurt in that way? I think she’s great. (Although People showed pictures of them smiling and happy.)
I saw the photo in the print edition (page 5 of the Metro section. NYT wimped out by not putting it on the front page.) It’s truly stunning, but I can see why People – wanting only shiny happy heartstring-pulling kind of stuff – would have nixed it for their pages.
The story references that — how the isolation of the couple, in the photo, didn’t work for the People story.
Photos are tricky. We can’t really know what she’s thinking at that moment. She’s a bride on her wedding day; she’s probably happy, as is her groom.
Still, I’ll be haunted by that photo for a long time to come and hopeful that our country will do the right thing by those young men.
God Bless the Marine and his Bride. But I am sorry, the NYTimes does it again with their political slant against the war…couldn’t they be a little more compassionate? Looking for the definition of strength in marriage? This photo says it all. With the love and support from each other, their family, friends and many others, they will certainly make it, and the rest that comes their way will be a walk in the park–together.
The Salon article has more about this couple– including a picture taken before he was injured:
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/10/berman_photo/
I don’t think I would’ve seen that had I not finished WTDK this morning and taken a moment out of promoting a show about WWII to click over. I feel sort of trapped, sick and teary, and at the same time reminded of why I’m doing what I do and why I care.
And, now I can look forward to the lighter side — the NPR material — when I’m done in the salt mines.
Rob,
Part of the reason I posted the photo is because I thought it transcended political views. That photo is vivid no matter what one thinks of the war. Whether one supports or opposes the war, that photo is genuinely moving in so many ways.
Hi Laura,
I see with what you have to say about this moving picture. What I see “NYTimes” and the way they at times have reported on the military, I get a tad frustrated. God Bless this lovely couple. BTW, liked the NPR piece : )
Too sad and brave for words.