keepers

Early in 2009, I decided to capture an image every calendar day for an entire year. 365 days later, I have more gray hair, have aged a decade and alienated loved ones, but I did it and, most importantly, I didn’t miss a single day. Comments and criticisms are welcomed, both on composition and technique, and on content. Thanks for looking.

Catch 22 (Day 154)<br />
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We will call today’s shot a feeble foray into photo journalism.<br />
<br />
Don’t know if anyone is familiar with the Free State Project (FSP). To quote Wikipedia, it “is an Internet-based political movement, founded in 2001, to get at least 20,000 libertarian-leaning people to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideals” [many of which, most sensible people, myself included, believe in … less government, lower taxes, etc]. <br />
<br />
However, every movement has its more extremist members [my words] and the Free State Project is no exception; to include a group who live in Keene and the environs. For more information, you can visit <a href="http://freekeene.com">http://freekeene.com</a>.<br />
<br />
So, anywho, as I was driving to Starbuck’s to get coffee this morning I passed a statue on our town square adorned with this sign and upside down flag. For those keeping score, Sam Dodson, our local “political prisoner”, was arrested for filming in the lobby of the local court house. While not illegal (but posted), the local police asked him to turn his camera off because he was potentially invading the privacy of people coming into the courthouse (e.g. battered women and children) … seems reasonable to me. He refused and was arrested. Now, two months later, he still is residing at a local jail because he refuses to provide his name (citing his Fifth Amendment rights). The Intranets state that he was on a hunger strike at one point.<br />
<br />
So, why the title, Catch 22?<br />
<br />
While acts of civil disobedience are sometimes necessary to evoke positive change, they can often have unintended negative consequences. While the FSP wants lower taxes, Mr. Dodson’s incarceration in our local jail will actually cost me and other property owners, who are paying for his stay, in the form of higher taxes. And, while not vandalism (and I thank them for that), acts like the above can actually make citizens embrace more government to help protect them from threatening societal elements like the FSP. <br />
<br />
I guess any movement has to balance their desire to get their message out with the risk of alienating themselves. <br />
<br />
… Just my opinion.<br />
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PS - I had another run-in with the police while I was taking this shot but that is a story for another day.<br />
<br />
(2009-06-07 9:08am)

154 / 365

Catch 22 (Day 154)

We will call today’s shot a feeble foray into photo journalism.

Don’t know if anyone is familiar with the Free State Project (FSP). To quote Wikipedia, it “is an Internet-based political movement, founded in 2001, to get at least 20,000 libertarian-leaning people to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideals” [many of which, most sensible people, myself included, believe in … less government, lower taxes, etc].

However, every movement has its more extremist members [my words] and the Free State Project is no exception; to include a group who live in Keene and the environs. For more information, you can visit http://freekeene.com.

So, anywho, as I was driving to Starbuck’s to get coffee this morning I passed a statue on our town square adorned with this sign and upside down flag. For those keeping score, Sam Dodson, our local “political prisoner”, was arrested for filming in the lobby of the local court house. While not illegal (but posted), the local police asked him to turn his camera off because he was potentially invading the privacy of people coming into the courthouse (e.g. battered women and children) … seems reasonable to me. He refused and was arrested. Now, two months later, he still is residing at a local jail because he refuses to provide his name (citing his Fifth Amendment rights). The Intranets state that he was on a hunger strike at one point.

So, why the title, Catch 22?

While acts of civil disobedience are sometimes necessary to evoke positive change, they can often have unintended negative consequences. While the FSP wants lower taxes, Mr. Dodson’s incarceration in our local jail will actually cost me and other property owners, who are paying for his stay, in the form of higher taxes. And, while not vandalism (and I thank them for that), acts like the above can actually make citizens embrace more government to help protect them from threatening societal elements like the FSP.

I guess any movement has to balance their desire to get their message out with the risk of alienating themselves.

… Just my opinion.

PS - I had another run-in with the police while I was taking this shot but that is a story for another day.

(2009-06-07 9:08am)

Other Shot A Day shot 20090607 4032

Paul
on June 11, 2009
That would be "your" site of course, sorry about that.
Paul
on June 11, 2009
Pete,

I love you site. Your photography is excellent!

Regarding Sam, you really should know that that "victim's privacy" thing is certainly an excuse concocted after the fact, and was not cited by the security officer "enforcing" the camera ban. It's the usual "for the children" fare the government comes up with as an excuse for self serving policies, or to aquire more power.

No one there objected to Sam filming, other than the officials. My understanding is that there wasn't even anyone in the lobby except activists. I am certain that if anyone had requested not to be filmed, Sam certainly would not have filmed them, and if a private citizen were indeed filmed despite objecting, then we could talk. The obvious purpose of the rule was to protect bureaucrats (the only ones being filmed) from public scrutany, and to prevent sunshine into court practices. Indeed, cameras had been freely allowed both inside and outside the courtroom until Mr. Burke's embarassing outburst against Ian recieved tens of thousands of views on youtube.

keepers

Paul

Paul