Buddhist Monks honoring 1973 Thai student protest
This is a chilling image.
If it were not for the brilliant orange robes worn by the monks, this could be a stark black and white photo. The penetrating orange juxtaposed on the images of war is a sensational attention grabber.
Here, monks are uniformly lined up in padded chairs, appearing downcast and grim; this regimented and controlled assemblage is far removed from our perception of their lifestyle: one of peaceful simplicity.
The back story certainly gives us added dimension and understanding. This is a ceremony in which the monks are honoring the 1973 bloody Thai uprising where many students were beaten and killed. At that time, their country was closed down and the monks were forced with huge dilemma. They had to decide whether they should stand by passively while innocents were being slaughtered--or to actively participate. Their brave acts included smuggling images out of the country which informed the world of the extent of the Thai protest.
This is clearly not a celebration; the faces reflect sadness and pain. However, in a broader sense, this photo reminds the world of the price we pay for freedom and peace. In class, we agreed the take-away message is "embrace hope and peace."
No comments:
Post a Comment