Sunday, August 5, 2007

THE IMMIGRANT

why-the-long-face--5462
In a world that is now the sum of all that came before, it is astonishing that there is such turmoil.
All the discoveries that have made the world the way it is today, have been from people from around the planet. One would think that working in unison with others, would achieve even more, or at least, in a shorter time period. Yet those who think they have achieved the most, from the same bank of humans we` ve all been deposited into, seem to want to cash in now, & leave other investors broken. This bank is one of immigrants. Everybody came from somewhere.
They came with cures, they came with farming knowledge, they came with engineering knowledge & they came to make a better life for everyone, to all distant locations on the planet. They are the planet. They are the immigrants. We are the immigrants. This is a study in light.
A light that shines on all of us, not a select few. It can not be turned off.
To see more of the light on the immigrants face, click & see this person in different light. See the different moods the light creates. The hope it shows. And be nice to the next immigrant you meet, he is you.
Planet Earth on the right, has more of this Blue Planet`s wonders, & at the top, please do go see my good friend Coconut, showing off by doing a high wire act on my truck antennae

17 comments:

AndiF said...

All four of my grandparents were immigrants and I've always been amazed by their courage. One grandmother left her home after her village was burned to the ground during a pogram. Only she, a 13-year-old, and two older brothers, 14 and 16, came -- it's hard to imagine having the strength it would take to leave all you love and all you know to step into the unknown supported by nothing but hope.

Family Man said...

Those are great shots Head. I especially like the one with the light shinning and the one that shows the trees.

My family immigrated from Ireland in the 1700's, and the thought struck me of when does it turn into where you come from is where you are?

Knucklehead said...

Andif,
When we look back at what our families have done in times of necessity, we well should be amazed at their courage , venturing into a hostile place with only hope to guide them. I`m sure you must be so proud of them & it is from them that the foundation of who you are stems from. As you pass on the story of their courage, you also pass on that willingness to exercise hope, in others. The fact that some people leave all they know for the unknown, by force of necessity, does not diminish their courage.These are the nation builders.

Knucklehead said...

FM,
The shots of the "Immigrant" were taken over a two year period. This little series is an extract from those.

My family recently started to walk upright & yet here I am, on the same planet. Hi brother.

tatudave said...

Tony,

In the second photo of your 'Coconut Gallery', I see a gremlin in the bottom right hand corner that looks hauntingly familiar:-) See ya soon...

...Dave

olivia said...

My grandfather was shipped to Canada from London at the age of 8 w/ his younger brother to work, when his mother married a man who didn't want the male children from her previous husband. My grandfather's sisters (my grand aunts) remained in England, and I have never met them, don't know who they are ... He never ever spoke of his mother that I recall, and only rarely spoke of his exp as a home boy -- he was not treated well. He ran away from his home farm when he was 18.

Knucklehead said...

Olivia,
Strange you should comment within seconds of a thought I had.
That is a very hard thing to understand. Did his mother decide what would be best for her or for him. I can not nor will I judge, but look at what happened. You`re now here & sharing. You might, for a different paternal lineage, be cheering on your favorite cricket team rather than those hockey hooligans. So far every commentor has proven that, no matter what, & no matter where from, we are all exceptional, but you`re a keeper.

Unknown said...

Either grand parents or great grandparents immigrated from Norway or Sweden, late 1800s.

Great grandfather on my mother's side, a carpenter, arrived to rebuild Chicago after Mrs O'Leary's cow, (or so they say,) done (sic) her thing!

Unknown said...

Oh, and ol' Coconut must be quite the character! I could just see him swingin' about!

Knucklehead said...

Batting a 1000, so far. Every one who commented arrived where they are & contributed to the general welfare. It wasn`t that hard to understand then, so what is the problem with understanding that now.
And but for a cow, you`d be wearing viking horns on your helmet.[or do you anyway?]

Knucklehead said...

NDD,
Coconut is the total companion bird. He has to be involved in the conversation. He has breakfast with me every day, dunking his toast alongside me. He plays tricks on the other birds & on me. I do have a payback policy though, & he knows that I fully goofed him when I do. He does math tricks that amaze visitors & acrobatics that he does with "No Hands".
He`s my good friend to boot.

Knucklehead said...

Hey Tatu,
Ya that was a fun day. Coconut had a great time doing his show.

Knucklehead said...

NDD,
I forgot to mention this. If I`m out wandering around the compound, I can`t hear the phone. I never miss a call though. Coconut does a higher phone ring sound than the actual phone so when I hear him doing the "Ringing Phone", he`s mimicking the real phone & I just go to where a phone is to answer it. He`s not goofed me on a false call yet, but If he gets it into his mind, I`ll be answering a dialtone. Bugger.

Unknown said...

Point of clarification re horns;

I travelled to Norway last in '86, and was informed by a tourist guide that the Vikings never wore horns on their cowhide skull caps.

Might have been hollywood that started all that.

Knucklehead said...

NDD,
I don`t know about Hollywood. I remember seeing what looked like a huge crossdresser, singing in a strange language, wearing one of those horned skullcaps. It was a song about Val Keery, I think.

Unknown said...

coulda been one too many shrooms;)

Knucklehead said...

TOO MANY SHROOMS?
Never heard of it put that way.
That`s the funn[flashback]iest thing I`ve [zwiinggg]
heard in a l[ooooh]ng time.