Pictures
: Zeyad has the camera and he sent me a picture already (boy, that was great). He plans to take pictures from tomorrow’s anti-terrorism demonstrations in Baghdad. He also asks us all what we want to see. Go to the comments on his blog to join in the discussion. Here’s what I said to him in an email:
The reason I so much wanted to get you a camera is that the more you make life in Iraq look real to outsiders, the more there’s a real connection, person-to-person. I’d love to see just the basic things of life: your neighborhood (though, of course, I wouldn’t expect you to get too close to home if there are security concerns for you); favorite restaurants; favorite stores; schools; whatever. Early in his days helping Iranians blog, Hoder put up some pictures of friends just having lunch and walking in a beautiful park and that’s what inspired me. Sometimes, people here think there’s something very strange and out of this world about a country so far away; the more we make it look like it’s just people next door, the more people can start to understand each other. That is why I am so glad you’re blogging — and doing such a superb job of it: You are giving people thousands of miles away a very clear perspective on your life and what things are really like in Iraq. That is invaluable. So shoot anything; sometimes, the most everyday pictures will be the most telling. …
your friend,
jeff
