What's the Story Behind this Photo?
First person who either already knows it, or correctly guesses as to the significance of it....well, go ahead and give yourself a cookie. For those who have never seen this photo, I'd be curious to know what the mood of the image conjures up in you. Thoughts? Emotions? Impressions?
(Don't be shy or embarrassed if you are completely in the cave on this one, even though it's a famous photo...I only discovered it for the first time about half an hour ago).
I'll update this post afterward with more, once the guesses/answers are in.
CONGRATULATIONS OUT TO TOM'S COMMON SENSE!!! Tom brought the contest to a quick end and decisive win. Tom: go stick your hand in the cookie jar! You earned it buddy! Atheling2 was the first-responder in the comments section and gets an honorable mention; go ahead and lick the cream-filling from your Oreo, buddy.
The story behind the photo is this: it's a propaganda photo taken of captured members of the USS Pueblo in 1968 at the hands of the North Koreans. Atheling2 was correct in guessing the signficance of the middle finger in the photo. Those soldiers are under duress, and giving the "Hawaiian good luck" sign as a secret protest, unbeknownst to their captors.
What got me started on this, was that I was poking around the 'net, and came across this gem, from Pundit Review back in January:
It's a true photograph, taken in Iraq from Thanksgiving 2003; the year that President Bush made his secret trip to spend Thanksgiving with the Troops. Some of you might have received it before in e-mail forwards. Just click on the photograph to be taken to Snopes for the full story (also, the Pundit Review link) and a bit of history lesson on how soldiers under "coercion" might give away secret signs that they are appearing on camera against their will. I thought about linking to more examples, but I'm headed out the door. If anyone else wants to leave any more links in the comments section on other examples, feel free, and I will add them to the post later tonight. I seem to recall hearing, when I was a kid, about an instance where a captured soldier used morse code by eye-blinking. But, that could have just been an ABC Friday night movie-of-the-week, or something....
Also, check out Blackfive's John Kerry photo op.
Labels: Hawaiian good luck, MIA
posted by The WordSmith from Nantucket at 9/29/2006 12:09:00 AM
13 Comments:
Are they POWs? And are they giving the finger to whomever is addressing/lecturing/harangueing them?
Otherwise, I'm clueless.
I'm drawing a complete blank. All I can say is that they don't look like criminals to me and they don't look happy.
It looks like me in my Advance Criminal Justice class when my professor says for the 50 millionth time, we are going to reading one of his own research papers for reference. Nothing better than a professor who can back up their own argument with that same argument in paper form. Screw you Dr. Whorell.
ok times up..Tell us! lol :)
I'm going to guess that it's a photo from the prisoners of the North Koreans from the USS Pueblo giving their captors the "good luck" sign...
Love that photo with Billary!
Hehehe, I feel good about my shot in the dark. I was just a little toddler when that happened!
I've seen a couple of these pictures with other Democratic leaders and a failed DNC presidential nominee.
Interesting, that this never occurs with Republican officials...
I recall viewing a photo similar to the one you have posted. This happened approx last year - an AP Photo'journalist' snapped a picture of two or three American soldiers resting in an alleyway after a battle. The picture was supposed to convey the weariness of the troops - looking more closely at the picture, one of the soldiers, not facing the camera, had has hand on his helmet and was giving 'the bird' to the photographer. The pictures was posted on AP website for weeks before it was discovered then promply pulled by AP....
God Bless our Troops :)
Would have loved to have seen that photo, skye.
I will find it...
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2005/08/nationa_airborn.html
SCORE!!!
Thanks, skye! I found the comments there to be a good read.
Awesome post!!! I would've never guessed about the photo but that is very cool that they had the wherewithall to do that.
<< Home