It's remarkable to me how many people say they would've done this, or would've done that. Those same people could walk by a homeless everyday on the same stretch of street, in the same neighborhood or section of downtown, and they would do nothing for him. I honor Kevin for giving voice to a nation that was crying out. I honor Kevin for trying to capture in the photo, the suffering that an entire world chose to ignore. Judge not....and live.
I'm afraid I think there's a world of difference in passing a homeless person on the street and passing a weakened 5 year old girl whimpering and nose down in the dirt crawling to a UN food station.
I don't believe Carter was bad or evil or uncaring - just in such tremendous emotional pain that he thought intervening was useless or that the image was somehow cathartic.
@PoetryAgainstWar...there is no world of difference between the suffering of a 5 year old little girl and a 55 year old hungry homeless man. Pain and suffering don't suffer the delights of separation or condition, nor the privilege of the comfort born from third party viewership, 'lest that privilege contorts and conforms to the malleability born of false protests and rhetorical questions..."what could've/should've been done?" The poem is powerful, as is the photo, as was that moment.
It seems you did not search good enough. Even New York Times published an editorial note Carter helped the girl. And the other photographer being there Joao Silva also told about the situation that let's assume he helped her. Maybe read the book Bang Bang Club...
@volgyia I didn't realise it was his birthday, thanks for pointing that out. I hope he's at peace.
Can you define 'helping' her? Carter said he scared away the bird and she resumed on her way. Is that what you mean? I know Silva defended Carter's actions and as a friend and colleague, I'd be surprised if he hadn't. As I've commented before, I can't condemn Carter and the poem is my personal attempt at understanding what was going on in his head that day. Maybe I'm way off . . .
@xXBlackxPawsXx I struggled for 6 years to find the right way of saying what I feel about this photo, your comment made it worthwhile. Thanks so much.
This is an immaculate reading and a fine poem. Thank you for the admirable reflection. The other mystery is Kevin Carter's death, so soon after the award, is consistent with the mystery that is every artist's motives. Apparently the death of his photography colleague had profoundly affected a sensitive man who already had simply seen too much horror.
My guess, my hope is that he secretly did help this child, but he did not want us to know. He wanted us to hurt for this dying child, knowing she was dead and we didn't do anything about it, stirring up emotions and determination to help others who suffer, which was his plan all along..
This poem is my attempt to understand Carter's reasons for not helping the little girl once he'd taken his iconic photograph. Does the photographer have a duty to intervene?
@nessie4215 Not for her own safety but for the safety of the journalists and others in the area who were told not to help because of the risk of disease. All I see is a little girl being stalked by a vulture just a kilometre away from a UN food station. To hell with my safety.
@PoetryAgainstWar yea that is how we think now. but we were not in that situation and were not in that enviornment having to deal with all of that. it is very easy to judge when we dont know
@PoetryAgainstWar a photographer doesn't have a duty to help, but a human being does. but how many people in need do we see and we just walk away. I try not to judge Kevin Carter but it's hard not too. Well done poem.
@benzo430 I think you've made a perfect distinction between being a photographer and being human. I find it hard not to judge Carter as well, hence the poem's attempt at understanding why he didn't help. I don't think he was bad or evil or stupid - I believe he was a man in tremendous emotional pain who had witnessed too much horror (as seen in some of his other photos).
A person who values journalistic principles over basic human empathy is a scum bag and doesn't deserve a life.
patio87 2 months ago
It's remarkable to me how many people say they would've done this, or would've done that. Those same people could walk by a homeless everyday on the same stretch of street, in the same neighborhood or section of downtown, and they would do nothing for him. I honor Kevin for giving voice to a nation that was crying out. I honor Kevin for trying to capture in the photo, the suffering that an entire world chose to ignore. Judge not....and live.
GuerillaInThaMidst 3 months ago
@GuerillaInThaMidst
I'm afraid I think there's a world of difference in passing a homeless person on the street and passing a weakened 5 year old girl whimpering and nose down in the dirt crawling to a UN food station.
I don't believe Carter was bad or evil or uncaring - just in such tremendous emotional pain that he thought intervening was useless or that the image was somehow cathartic.
What would you have done?
PoetryAgainstWar 3 months ago 3
@PoetryAgainstWar...there is no world of difference between the suffering of a 5 year old little girl and a 55 year old hungry homeless man. Pain and suffering don't suffer the delights of separation or condition, nor the privilege of the comfort born from third party viewership, 'lest that privilege contorts and conforms to the malleability born of false protests and rhetorical questions..."what could've/should've been done?" The poem is powerful, as is the photo, as was that moment.
GuerillaInThaMidst 3 months ago
It seems you did not search good enough. Even New York Times published an editorial note Carter helped the girl. And the other photographer being there Joao Silva also told about the situation that let's assume he helped her. Maybe read the book Bang Bang Club...
...BTW it is Kevin Carter's birthday today.
volgyia 5 months ago
@volgyia I didn't realise it was his birthday, thanks for pointing that out. I hope he's at peace.
Can you define 'helping' her? Carter said he scared away the bird and she resumed on her way. Is that what you mean? I know Silva defended Carter's actions and as a friend and colleague, I'd be surprised if he hadn't. As I've commented before, I can't condemn Carter and the poem is my personal attempt at understanding what was going on in his head that day. Maybe I'm way off . . .
PoetryAgainstWar 5 months ago
wow, you summarized everything in that poem. It's beautiful, made me think of a lot of things in life.
xXBlackxPawsXx 7 months ago
@xXBlackxPawsXx I struggled for 6 years to find the right way of saying what I feel about this photo, your comment made it worthwhile. Thanks so much.
PoetryAgainstWar 7 months ago
he helped her...he took the photo....
robertkacala 9 months ago
@robertkacala If only . . . he helped those who came after her.
PoetryAgainstWar 9 months ago
This is an immaculate reading and a fine poem. Thank you for the admirable reflection. The other mystery is Kevin Carter's death, so soon after the award, is consistent with the mystery that is every artist's motives. Apparently the death of his photography colleague had profoundly affected a sensitive man who already had simply seen too much horror.
winifredatwell 1 year ago
@winifredatwell Thank you again. I agree - he'd seen too much horror.
PoetryAgainstWar 11 months ago
I read about this years ago and it was said that the little girl got up and kept walking, but no one knows what happened to her after that.
shanphillips 1 year ago
.Read the Biography first. How do You know that he didnt help her? Do You know the situation?
ur25lipca 1 year ago
@ur25lipca I researched the incident before I wrote the poem and nowhere could I find Carter confirming he helped the child.
PoetryAgainstWar 1 year ago
My guess, my hope is that he secretly did help this child, but he did not want us to know. He wanted us to hurt for this dying child, knowing she was dead and we didn't do anything about it, stirring up emotions and determination to help others who suffer, which was his plan all along..
Lulu4Him 1 year ago
This poem is my attempt to understand Carter's reasons for not helping the little girl once he'd taken his iconic photograph. Does the photographer have a duty to intervene?
PoetryAgainstWar 1 year ago
@PoetryAgainstWar when you see hundred childrens dying every days there's nothing to understand
dumbimperialism 11 months ago
@dumbimperialism But I believe there is - if someone who was twenty metres away didn't help, I want to understand why.
PoetryAgainstWar 11 months ago
@PoetryAgainstWar they were told NOT to help. that is how it was. they were told not to touch them and to leave them alone for their own safety
nessie4215 8 months ago
@nessie4215 Not for her own safety but for the safety of the journalists and others in the area who were told not to help because of the risk of disease. All I see is a little girl being stalked by a vulture just a kilometre away from a UN food station. To hell with my safety.
PoetryAgainstWar 8 months ago
@PoetryAgainstWar yea that is how we think now. but we were not in that situation and were not in that enviornment having to deal with all of that. it is very easy to judge when we dont know
nessie4215 8 months ago
@PoetryAgainstWar a photographer doesn't have a duty to help, but a human being does. but how many people in need do we see and we just walk away. I try not to judge Kevin Carter but it's hard not too. Well done poem.
benzo430 6 months ago
@benzo430 I think you've made a perfect distinction between being a photographer and being human. I find it hard not to judge Carter as well, hence the poem's attempt at understanding why he didn't help. I don't think he was bad or evil or stupid - I believe he was a man in tremendous emotional pain who had witnessed too much horror (as seen in some of his other photos).
Thank you, I really appreciate your comment.
PoetryAgainstWar 6 months ago