Seven degrees at 8:30am, and warm in the sun.
When I first came as a full-time card-carrying resident to Carmine Superiore, the war in Iraq was just beginning. The airwaves were loaded, indeed, overloaded, with claim and counter-claim, Bush and Saddam, WMD real and imaginary.
One of the most potent images in those days was the rainbow flag bearing the word pace, peace. As I travelled to and fro from Carmine to Milan, from Milan to London and back again, I saw dozens of them - colourful, hopeful - draped from buildings ancient and modern, grand and humble. And every time I returned to my new home, I was greeted by Carmine's own contribution to the rainbow protest, hanging from a disused building right on the lake.
As the invasion went ahead and the killing began, the flags continued to flutter in the wind, steadfastly proclaiming a peace that could still be. When Baghdad was taken and Saddam finally executed, most of the flags gradually vanished. Carmine's, though, remained, and as month followed month, year followed year, people continued to die on both sides, and Carmine's flag and the building it flew from became ever more ragged.
Today, this is what you see when you arrive in Carmine Inferiore...
After seven years, Iraq, the cradle of civilisation, lies in tatters, just like Carmine's rainbow flag, and the sadly derelict building it adorns.
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12 comments:
Thanks, Brandon. Knowing your 'special interest' I appreciate your comment.
Such a moving and sad post. And a beautiful photo of forgotten hopes.
I find those lonely, fainted flags, very sad too. Forgotten ghosts of a forgotten war. Or maybe unshakable faith in peace.
the window has lots of stories to tell.
Sad windows for a sad situation! Hopefully the elections will result in a more stable Iraq and the killing will end!
Yes we all despise war but in the olden days Kings etc lead their soldiers into battle. How about Brown, Blair and Bush doing the same. Maybe then they would think again if their worthless necks were in harms way.
A most informative post! The story is so sad! We hear so much about troubled Iraq on the news, but it is seldom we hear stories like this that really touch the heart! Beautiful!
Thought-provoking post, Louise. If only those in power had THOUGHT deeply before they acted in the first place.
That's a very powerful image!! *sigh* makes me really sad...
C x
beautiful photo.
Sadly poetic. And true. I wonder if the ragged flag and building are indicative of the ragged excuses given us by the leaders?
Worthy of note photo! When I see photos like this I always wonder as to its story. Thanks for sharing this moving story.
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