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Cloudy Thursday War

The somber mood on the train this morning reflects the mood here in New York. I rode the F train and no one was smiling. No one, except the young couple delighting in how lucky they were, seemingly oblivious of (or in defiance of) the war.

People were now holding newspapers, where novels had been. Others stared at the speckled floor paneling of the F train contemplating quietly to themselves. Occasionally looking up to escape their thoughts in a foot pain ad.

Hey, I can live with foot pain
But why should I?

It all seemed surreal. As if the commute I had known was now being played by actors who, as well as they might, couldn’t capture the essence of my daily commute. The world looks the same, but is changed way down at the core.

Much like my daily commute on the F train into 14th street station every morning, I feel like the passenger in the huge machine which is my government. _Our government._ I have no control over the train, I have no control over my government, but I don’t know how to get off this particular train. The conductor is not listening to his passengers and is blowing past the stops we are asking him stop at. Our conductor has locked his door and is driving the train as he likes, -because he feels it is his.-

I sat and wondered to myself if I am documenting a life I may never see again. A life I might never be able to see again. Every photograph I have taken recently, feels like it will be important somehow. That the wind of change has begun to blow and, unfortunately, I may not be on the side it is blowing from.

I hope I’m wrong.

Subway floor

7 replies on “Cloudy Thursday War”

We all feel heavy today, as if somehow alternatives to this dreary path were being extinguished.
This feeling is going to last for a long time.

Surprised I never see you in passing on the F. I still read my book (though it is by the Adbusters founder). I still joke and smile. Lately, I've given up on feeling immense sadness and fear. I can't live that way much longer. I need to feel something…other than afraid, sad and worried…

In my office the irreverant humour is strained, people are addicted to the news sites & a sense of foreboding hangs over everyone. There were a number of arrests in the city in Oct '01 & those arrested are still awaiting trial, more arrests were made at the start of the year. The city – one of the UK's more integrated & diverse, both cultrally and religiously, and the fear spreads across the whole community.
During the cold war it was kind of comforting to be 5 miles from a first strike target – now the targets are as unknown as the enemy and his weapon of choice, which makes things more stressful, oppressive and worrying.

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