Before you commit your thoughts and feelings

I've decided to write this journal entry to address the topical nature of the images I'm about to upload and will be uploading over the next few weeks once I've got a proper scanner.

It doesn't take one long to realise how much hatred there is in the world at the moment. You don't have to look so far as foreign countries, the news or even so far as beyond yourself in most cases. It seems more and more people are turning to hate as the answer and as justification for retaliation, as emotion overwhelms them and the tangible solutions elude. While I don't believe that the world is going to change in my life time, I do believe there is a foundation for peace between people that starts with a simple message, one which is often toted without the weight that should be attached to it, that message is Love.

While the first reaction of many may be to associate that message or word with either political movements or religious factions some may actually realise the origin of the word and message itself, and it's origin is of course humanity. Herein lies the problem as we are a species that segregates by social, politcal, physical and metaphysical things that are viewed as differences rather than that of the same whole.

How do we overcome these boundaries? We can fix none but ourselves therefor serving as an example to those who experience us in everyday life, influencing their lives through Loving everyone despite of how they may treat you, how you feel about them or what their history is. This is the biggest obstacle for anyone and I know that I myself struggle every day to Love unconditionally as emotion and passion fight to overwhelm what I know and believe to be truth, that every living being deserves my Love.

How does this relate to photography? I recently shot the 'Free Gaza' protest in Melbourne city which was attended by around 10,000 people or something, which is an impressive feat. What is more impressive is the amount of people who actually stood in protest of violence, knowing well that the answer to conflict lies with peace and love and not with retaliation. Unfortunately this was not the case with a select few that sought to spread hate and anger through racism and slander instead of searching for a solution. Because it is easy for us as Humans to be influenced by such an emotion, I think in some ways they succeeded.

This presents my next problem as I have these shots that are likely to make people hate either the subject or their ethnic group due to an individual's actions. So herein lies my challenge to you, if you have read through all this and understand what I'm trying to get at I want you to Love the people that you see in these photographs unconditionally. No matter what you believe or where you are from because I do believe that the solution begins on a small scale level, and if you can begin to Love the people that sought to hate you, their hate will ultimately fail.

Love costs us nothing to give or receive, hate could cost us everything.