The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing.
– John Berger said that
What powerful words that John Berger has shared with us! It fits your composition very well here.
I agree with the comment of Steven, a great matching photo.
That’s a pretty damning statement
So much power in this “vision and verb,” Sherri. (sigh)
A very powerful statement and a very sad image to accompany it.
a sad commentary and a sad row of shacks. at one level I agree, but starvation is a smaller problem today; infant mortality is lower today; smallpox, tuberculosis, measles, malaria and (some) other diseases are conquered or reduced; the proportion of people living on less than $1 a day is lower. The obscenely rich are obscene, yes, but is the world better or worse than in 500 B.C.E. or 500 C.E. or 1000, 1400, 1600 or ???
John Berger hits the spot as usual
Great combo with words and picture. Yo do these so well Sheri.
Ces herbages jaunis cet alignement de maisons de bois le rendu la rouge excellent
Belle soirée
This image reminds me of my grandparents who were sharecroppers in Tennessee. YOur words are heartbreaking.
Image puissante avec cette citation .
Superb image and atmosphere going with the words of John Berger.
You captured the feel of poverty. This image seems timeless.
Thank you, Sherri, both for that wonderful image and the great John Berger quote.
wow…. what an amazing combo of image and words… it makes me feel like crying… you are right about what ’causes’ poverty in this day and age, and our hardship says nothing about us, and written off as trash, well, that’s just because people are in denial about how it could just as easily be them…
Excellent image and great Photoshop work – I like it a lot.
This is a great image and the words with it are powerful. A society is judged by how it treats its’ weakest members not by how it rewards the strongest
Joli traitement, on dirait un tableau.
Excellent photo. The processing suits the subject. The quote says it all. thanks.
A brilliant illustration for this very sad commentary…
I have to admit I am complete in line with Berger’s thinking. And your photo illustrates the point in a poignant way. In itself it’s a beautiful photo, but with sad undertones.
Especially with adding the texture, your image certainly clearly illustrates Berger’s statement.