'PEACE ON EARTH!' - What do you think of this photo?

"Finally, Peace on Earth!"
Photo from Hannah Hawkes Photography Facebook Page

"A picture is worth a thousand words" 

The idiom which refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image, or that an image of a subject conveys its meaning and essence more effectively than a description does, was made real when a Louisiana-based photographer posted a family photo she took in her Hannah Hawkes Photography Facebook Page. As soon as the photo was posted, it quickly went viral that not only a thousand words, but tens of thousand words were contributed by netizens about the controversial Holiday-duct photo. 

The family photo shows the girls and the mom bound by Christmas lights and their mouths taped shut with neon green duct tape, as the dad holds 'Peace on Earth' sign while the little boy stands next to him, giving the camera a thumbs up. 

The photographer faced a big backlash for this holiday picture in a way that critics reportedly took issue with the picture, calling it sexist and promoting the idea of domestic violence and silencing women while others apparently thought the photo was just a harmless joke.

On December 15, Hawkes defended the photo and wrote on her Facebook page status, saying it was requested by the family pictured and in no way meant to promote abuse.

"After being silent, now isn't that ironic, I would like to speak! 

I have been called every name in the book, and have received some very hateful and vulgar comments and messages. I would like to say that as a female I do NOT and have never promoted violence to women! 

I do not support abuse, or the degradation of women. My controversial photo was taken by request by the family, and was in no way meant to promote abuse. 

This photo was taken with humor in mind, and was meant as a comical Christmas photo. I personally know this family, and have known them for many years. They are not abusive to their children in any shape or form. Also, I would like to add that no one was harmed during the process! So everyone have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and MAY GOD BLESS you and yours!"

This defense fell on deaf ears. With hundreds of shares, the company’s Facebook page has been shut down.

PHOTOGRAPHER’S FACEBOOK PAGE GETS SHUT DOWN AFTER CONTROVERSIAL HOLIDAY DUCT-TAPE PHOTO

I love Photography. I even would like to be a Photographer because pictures and images speak louder than words. So much can be extracted and communicated from a single photo. I am a visual-type of person for that reason. But even with the same photo, it may be perceived differently by others. It may mean differently to other viewers.

Since the time of Hippocrates, researchers and experts in the field of personality and human behavior have been seeking ways to understand how different personality and behavioral styles perceive things and impact others. It was found out that what is inside, what is hidden, what is not seen by others is what usually comes out when a person reacts. The thing inside of us is what comes out when we're asked how we perceive things and images.

So what is the intent of this photo? The photograph very loudly speaks what it intends to convey.

It was obviously meant as a joke. Maybe done in jest? To some it may have been done in poor taste. Others find it funny. To some it may be insensitive and disturbing. To others it could be degrading. Still others see it as artistic.

We cannot put judgment on the sentiment of the photo. The family meant it the way to be.

The value of the photo lies on how it is received.

How do you look at this photo? What are your thoughts about it?

The judgment is yours!

Here are two other photos that could have been taken together during the photo shot of that now controversial photo with the green duct tape

Johnson Family Photos
Photo from Hannah Hawkes Photography Facebook Page

The photographer had so much fun with these three at the Grant Christmas Tree Farm!
Photo from Hannah Hawkes Photography Facebook Page

J u s t   t h i n k i n g   o u t  l o u d !

A wounded soldier's powerful response to those who expected him to be Anti-Muslim

"Yes. A Muslim man blew me up, and I lost my leg." ~ Chris Herbert

This is the opening line of  Chris Herbert's Facebook rant. Chris is a British veteran from Portsmouth who served with the Yorkshire Regiment in Iraq. He lost his leg in 2007 in a roadside bombing in Basra. Many expected him and assumed him to be  racist and anti-Muslim. He says in one of his Facebook post that an Islamophobic group tried to recruit him as a poster boy. 

Chris Herbert has a powerful message to anyone who thinks he's a racist and anti-Muslim
Photo Credit | Chris Herbert Profile Photo (Facebook)

Frustrated with the false assumptions, he shared a powerful anti-Islamophobic message in his Facebook status last Tuesday, December 8th 2015. Instead of sowing hatred against Islam and Muslims, he goes on to praise many of them.

Here's the full text of Chris Herbert's Facebook post:

Getting frustrated by some people expecting racism from me, because I got blown up. Here it is: 

Yes. A Muslim man blew me up, and I lost my leg.
A Muslim man also lost his arm that day wearing a British Uniform.
A Muslim medic was in the helicopter that took me from the field
A Muslim surgeon performed the surgery that saved my life
A Muslim Nurse was part of the team that helped me when I returned to the UK
A Muslim Healthcare Assistant was part of the team that sorted out my day to day needs in rehabilitation when I was learning to walk
A Muslim taxi driver gave me a free ride the first time I went for a beer with my Dad after I came home.
A Muslim doctor offered my Dad comfort and advice in a pub, when he didnt know how to deal with my medicines and side effects. 

Contrary to that,
A white Brit spat in my girlfriends face for 'fucking a cripple when you could have me [him]'
A white Brit pushed my wheelchair away from a lift so he could use it first.
A white Brit screamed at my Dad for parking in a disabled bay when I was in the services coming home
(Although, alot of people helped in my recovery! I don't hate white Brits either! Hahaha) 

Point is, fuck off. I know who I dislike, and I know who I don't. I know who I appreciate, and I know who I don't. If you want to hate an entire race of men and women for the actions of a few dickheads feel free, but don't push your views on me, thinking I am an easy target because one douche bag decided it was my day to die. 

Blaming all Muslims for the actions of groups like Daeshe and the Taliban, is like blaming all Christians for the actions of the KKK or Westboro Baptist Church.
Get a grip of your lives, hug your family and get back to work

In less than two days, at the time of this writing, the post has been  shared over 117,000+ times.

What are your thoughts about the message of Chris Herbert?

It Pays to Wait and See the Bigger Picture

In today's fast-paced workplace, whatever our level, we are always under pressure to act now, rather than spend time thinking, reasoning things through, thinking about the facts, and seeing the bigger picture. Chances are our primary focus is what’s directly in front of us.

Too frequently, people jump to conclusions. The other person at the end of the table in the meeting room has not finished talking yet and the conclusion is drawn. Hearing only the manager's complaint about a low performing employee and people jump to conclusions. They hear an alleged accusation of one employee and they jump to conclusions. They hear a rumor of a decision the boss has made and jump to conclusions. People do so because they are impulsive and impatient in many areas of their life. This leads into jumping to conclusions. 

Proverbs 25:8 (MSG) says, “Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.”

The ability to see the bigger picture is a positive quality that is oftentimes forgotten. It is in fact a leadership quality that should be at the top of the list but is so often not exercised and practiced.

The short video clip below is a very good illustration for us to wait, to be patient, and to see first the bigger picture before making any comment. Otherwise, all you will see are only  boobs, asses and dicks.

The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close-up. ~ Chuck Palahniuk

Having the big picture in mind enables us to overcome the day to day routines that attempt to distract us from pursuing our dream.”  ~ Assegid Habtewold, The 9 Cardinal Building Blocks: For Continued Success in Leadership

J u s t    T h i n k i n g    O u t    L o u d !