Comments on: Hillside Display of Crosses: A War of Emotions http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/ Photography, video and multimedia Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:03:10 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: 2009 Pictures of the Year Multimedia Winner: “Kiki and Her Two Dads” — a Brilliant No. 2 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-163662 2009 Pictures of the Year Multimedia Winner: “Kiki and Her Two Dads” — a Brilliant No. 2 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:03:10 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-163662 [...] First Place, Lucas Oleniuk, The Toronto Star —“Airsick” [...] [...] First Place, Lucas Oleniuk, The Toronto Star —“Airsick” [...]

]]> By: Sue Ruhl http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-87208 Sue Ruhl Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:16:41 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-87208 I am the grandmother of one of the fallen soldiers represented by the Lafayette Crosses. My grandson, Marine Cpl. Christopher D. Leon, was 20 years old when a sniper's bullet took his life on June 20, 2006. My dear friends, Marcie and Chris Christensen live close by and have been kind enough to maintain Christopher's cross in his memory and I cannot thank them enough. This tribute was meant to be just that - a tribute and a memorial to each and every American who has given his or her life for our country. It was not meant to be a pro-war or an anti-war "statement" of any kind and I am very proud that my grandson's name is included. I understand that the average age of those who have died is 21. We owe them so much more than these humble crosses! Sue Ruhl Nevada March 25, 2008 I am the grandmother of one of the fallen soldiers represented by the Lafayette Crosses. My grandson, Marine Cpl. Christopher D. Leon, was 20 years old when a sniper’s bullet took his life on June 20, 2006. My dear friends, Marcie and Chris Christensen live close by and have been kind enough to maintain Christopher’s cross in his memory and I cannot thank them enough. This tribute was meant to be just that – a tribute and a memorial to each and every American who has given his or her life for our country. It was not meant to be a pro-war or an anti-war “statement” of any kind and I am very proud that my grandson’s name is included. I understand that the average age of those who have died is 21. We owe them so much more than these humble crosses!

Sue Ruhl
Nevada
March 25, 2008

]]> By: susanne http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-86254 susanne Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:57:57 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-86254 After reading all of the comments it is amazing how many are so quick to want to voice their anti-war or pro war comments. This is a memorial to our fallen solders. Each number of crosses represents a life, a name. Whether you are pro-war or anti-war, what happened to respect to other human life, living or dead! This memorial represents so much to all of us & more to those whose life is represented. I look at the videos & the comments & see people arguing their beliefs under any cost...isn't that what starts wars to begin with, religion, land, money, their beliefs. Why all this arguing & fighting among you all? Take a long hard look at yourself, you are a product of what you're arguing against. Instead of trying to shove your "idea" down someone else's throat why don't you take all that energy & learn how to have respect & manors to your own kind. After reading all of the comments it is amazing how many are so quick to want to voice their anti-war or pro war comments. This is a memorial to our fallen solders. Each number of crosses represents a life, a name. Whether you are pro-war or anti-war, what happened to respect to other human life, living or dead! This memorial represents so much to all of us & more to those whose life is represented. I look at the videos & the comments & see people arguing their beliefs under any cost…isn’t that what starts wars to begin with, religion, land, money, their beliefs. Why all this arguing & fighting among you all? Take a long hard look at yourself, you are a product of what you’re arguing against. Instead of trying to shove your “idea” down someone else’s throat why don’t you take all that energy & learn how to have respect & manors to your own kind.

]]> By: Newsy ze ?wiata foto » Blog Archive » Multimedia http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-85880 Newsy ze ?wiata foto » Blog Archive » Multimedia Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:59:04 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-85880 [...] POYi przyznali nagrody w kilku multimedialnych kategoriach. Polecam obejrzenie materia?u o krzy?ach na wzgórzu w Kalifornii symbolizuj?cych ?mier? ameryka?skich ?o?nierzy w Iraku. Oraz histori?  o ?miertelnie [...] [...] POYi przyznali nagrody w kilku multimedialnych kategoriach. Polecam obejrzenie materia?u o krzy?ach na wzgórzu w Kalifornii symbolizuj?cych ?mier? ameryka?skich ?o?nierzy w Iraku. Oraz histori?  o ?miertelnie [...]

]]> By: chris http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-85855 chris Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:29:41 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-85855 What a wonderful piece. It is a fair representation of the many sides and emotions on the memorial from pro-war, to anti-war, to remembering the fallen, to thinking it is an eyesore in an affluent community. It was great to find this because it accomplishes one of my goals that i began my blog <a href="http://lafayettecrosses.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">the crosses of lafayette</a> with: to let images, interviews and testimonials about the memorial speak for themselves, The power of the memorial is presence not opinion, in its reminder that we are fighting a costly war and not a condemnation of our troops (it is in fact the opposite). I am very greatful to all the volunteers and media makers who have made the memorials presence, both on the hill and online, successful. I would like to say that Sherry Perussina's comment trouble's me deeply. It is not the fact that she believes that the memorial is represents a disdain for america and american troops and that it is naive but that she says "They [peace activists] will not be happy until we leave the millions of Iraqis to die at the hands of barbarians!" The term barbarian is close to hate speech towards people living in the middle east, and that hate is dangerous and could keep us in war indefinitely for no good reason. Congrats on the award! -chris http://lafayettecrosses.blogspot.com What a wonderful piece. It is a fair representation of the many sides and emotions on the memorial from pro-war, to anti-war, to remembering the fallen, to thinking it is an eyesore in an affluent community. It was great to find this because it accomplishes one of my goals that i began my blog the crosses of lafayette with: to let images, interviews and testimonials about the memorial speak for themselves, The power of the memorial is presence not opinion, in its reminder that we are fighting a costly war and not a condemnation of our troops (it is in fact the opposite). I am very greatful to all the volunteers and media makers who have made the memorials presence, both on the hill and online, successful.

I would like to say that Sherry Perussina’s comment trouble’s me deeply. It is not the fact that she believes that the memorial is represents a disdain for america and american troops and that it is naive but that she says “They [peace activists] will not be happy until we leave the millions of Iraqis to die at the hands of barbarians!” The term barbarian is close to hate speech towards people living in the middle east, and that hate is dangerous and could keep us in war indefinitely for no good reason.

Congrats on the award!
-chris
http://lafayettecrosses.blogspot.com

]]> By: Karen Meredith http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-85456 Karen Meredith Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:35:40 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-85456 Congratulations, Pauline. It's nice when your profession recognizes your excellence in photography/multimedia. I am so proud of all the volunteers who tend to the crosses in Lafayette and so grateful that they honor my son and the other losses in this way. This display takes your breath away when you first see it and every time afterwards. It is a fitting, yet gut-wrenching display of the loss of US life in Iraq. I am sorry that Shelly Valerio finds this display an eyesore. She says that she lives it, breathes it and sees it every day. Strange, that's how I feel about the war. Since my son, Lt Ken Ballard was killed nearly 4 years ago in Bush's war, there is not a minute that I do not live the war, breathe the war and see it- I only wish I could turn it off for one minute. And Justin from Cali- any number more than zero was too many deaths in this war turned occupation. I am also sorry that people see this as an anti-war display. If people are disturbed by this visual display, perhaps it is really having to face the excruciating losses that these last 5 years have left us. Again Congratulations! Congratulations, Pauline. It’s nice when your profession recognizes your excellence in photography/multimedia.

I am so proud of all the volunteers who tend to the crosses in Lafayette and so grateful that they honor my son and the other losses in this way. This display takes your breath away when you first see it and every time afterwards. It is a fitting, yet gut-wrenching display of the loss of US life in Iraq.

I am sorry that Shelly Valerio finds this display an eyesore. She says that she lives it, breathes it and sees it every day. Strange, that’s how I feel about the war. Since my son, Lt Ken Ballard was killed nearly 4 years ago in Bush’s war, there is not a minute that I do not live the war, breathe the war and see it- I only wish I could turn it off for one minute.

And Justin from Cali- any number more than zero was too many deaths in this war turned occupation.

I am also sorry that people see this as an anti-war display. If people are disturbed by this visual display, perhaps it is really having to face the excruciating losses that these last 5 years have left us.

Again Congratulations!

]]> By: Sarah P http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-85364 Sarah P Mon, 17 Mar 2008 01:08:46 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-85364 Yes, congratulations -- Tichens, Lubens, you guys did a superb job!! Yes, congratulations — Tichens, Lubens, you guys did a superb job!!

]]> By: Michal Daniel http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-83444 Michal Daniel Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:00:29 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-83444 Superb! I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this outstanding story having received the Multimedia News Story award: http://poyi.org/65/winners.html Congratulations!!! Michal Superb! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about this outstanding story having received the Multimedia News Story award: http://poyi.org/65/winners.html

Congratulations!!!

Michal

]]> By: Michal Daniel http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-83443 Michal Daniel Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:59:51 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-83443 Superb! I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this outstanding story having received the Multimedia News Story award: http://poyi.org/65/winners.html Congratualtions!!! Michal Superb! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am about this outstanding story having received the Multimedia News Story award: http://poyi.org/65/winners.html

Congratualtions!!!

Michal

]]> By: Michael Bryan http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/blog/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/comment-page-1/#comment-16238 Michael Bryan Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:33:53 +0000 http://www.mercurynewsphoto.com/2007/05/28/a-hillside-display-of-crosses-a-war-of-emotions/#comment-16238 The amount of doublethink present in the negative comments here is instructive: the protest hurts the environment, the peace activists are "blood thirsty", those who want peace and dialog are naive and "have a lot of growing up to do" (as opposed to those who think that an ancient culture can be changed in a few years by men with guns). None of these people seem to recognize or respect the primacy of a simple American imperative: political speech is protected by our Constitution simply because it is so compelling for opponents to try use the government to silence those who have a compelling and persuasive argument that gores their ox. The amount of doublethink present in the negative comments here is instructive: the protest hurts the environment, the peace activists are “blood thirsty”, those who want peace and dialog are naive and “have a lot of growing up to do” (as opposed to those who think that an ancient culture can be changed in a few years by men with guns). None of these people seem to recognize or respect the primacy of a simple American imperative: political speech is protected by our Constitution simply because it is so compelling for opponents to try use the government to silence those who have a compelling and persuasive argument that gores their ox.

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