A8 • www.vicnews.com
VICTORIANEWS
Friday, December 23, 2011 - VICTORIA
EDITORIAL
NEWS
Penny Sakamoto Group Publisher Kevin Laird Editor Oliver Sommer Advertising Director
The Victoria News is published by Black Press Ltd. | 818 Broughton St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E4 | Phone: 250-381-3484 • Fax: 250-386-2624 • Web: www.vicnews.com
OUR VIEW
Let’s give peace a fighting chance The word peace has been commodified over the last few decades to the point that it’s relatively meaningless to many people. Talk about peace and people will sing a refrain from John Lennon’s anti-war anthem released way back in 1969. The symbols of peace are also well known, though they’re now more likely to be used to dress up a handbag or designer shirt than an actual, earnest plea for calm. But this weekend, as we warm to the spirit of the holidays, it’s a good time to renew our commitment to the idea of peace. The past decade has been marked by one of the longest wars in our nation’s history. Canadian troops have pulled out of conflicts in Afghanistan and the U.S. has finally pulled back from its controversial invasion of Iraq. For years, diplomacy has taken a back seat to a show of force. But recent history tells us that might is not the best way to put an end to violence. Sometimes, just having the eyes of the world on you can be enough to compel aggressors to choose a more peaceful tack. Look at the events of this year’s Arab Spring. The best outcomes occurred when citizens themselves, many times with little more than just observation from other nations, became aware that there is a better way to exist than under the oppressive thumb of authoritarian regimes. Peace is the will of the masses. We just need to recall what happened in 1914, on the Western Front of the First World War. The fires of the Great War were stoked by rival governments. But on the ground, amidst the death and the mire of the trenches, the common men who did the fighting chose to do something that seems more remarkable with every year that passes. On Christmas Eve, there was an agreement to stop shooting. They were enemies but also humans with families and traditions of song and celebration. Those first soldiers who crept from their fortified positions, in direct opposition to their commanders’ orders, were incredibly brave. For a few hours or even days in some places, there was a stop to the killing and irrational hatred. And then, perhaps reflecting the naïveté of hope as well as the passing of the season, the fighting resumed as it had been before. Peace will take courage and the resolve of all of us to make that change. What do you think? Give us your comments by e-mail: editor@vicnews.com or fax 250-386-2624. All letters must have a name and a telephone number for verification. The Victoria News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
2009 WINNER
Vanity advice for future candidates In the interests of improving The Seattle Times runs a photo our views of our potential leaders, feature in their weekend magazine here’s a few tips for veteran and called Then And Now (Black Press aspiring politicos regarding their does something similar in the Oak photographic portraits. Bay News and Goldstream News First, invest in the local economy Gazette). It’s a simple idea, two and jobs market and hire a profesphotographs taken of the same sional to take your portrait. This view, one historical and the other isn’t just a sneaky way of picking up contemporary, showing the difference in the view over the years. The extra work on the side for myself and photographer colchanges can be quite leagues. It’s just that it is shocking. obvious that so many folks Having survived running for office have simanother round of elecply asked a friend, family tions, I was thinking the member or possibly a passnext time we head to the ing stranger with a camera polls, our newspapers phone to quickly snap a might run a Then and photo of them. Now set of photographs That seems the only logiof election candidates. cal explanation why media The first could feature outlets are frequently the candidates’ press Don Denton mug shots, the image of A thousand words supplied with images of women and men who are themselves they use for out of focus, have tree publicity. The second branches and more growing out of would be a photograph we’d take their head, deep shadows hiding during the campaign. I think readtheir eyes and sport a skin colour ers, and voters, would at the very that resembles nothing in nature. least be amused by the fact that You would think people who, in often our politicians are misrepmany cases, are investing a large resenting themselves, at least in a amount of time and a not-inconvisual sense. sequential amount of money in a Wouldn’t it be a bit of a shock to bid for election would realize that realize that youthful visage you’re a simple, clear portrait might go voting for is actually a rather older, a long ways toward establishing a certainly more wrinkled, weatherpositive identity in the minds of votbeaten and battered figure. ers. Especially since we’re living in a The other issue with candidates and their photographs is the shock- very visual world. Think about it. There’s an elecingly bad quality of so many of tion looming. You’re planning to them. The photographs that is, not vote, but like too many of us you the candidates.
haven’t made it to an all-candidates meeting. So, you’re flipping through your local community paper, checking out the candidates’ ads and the newspaper stories about the elections. There are photos of each of the candidates, and let’s say you’ve narrowed the choices down to two individuals. One looks back at you, is in focus, nicely dressed and has a pleasant expression. The other photo shows the person looking off into the upper left hand corner of the page, biting their lip and with one eye that appears to have twitched when the photographer snapped the shutter. Who are you going to lean toward voting for? Sure, I can hear you thinking we should be worried about the issues, not looks. You’re right. The reality is we do make choices based upon appearance. My advice to anyone considering a run for office in a future election is simple. Invest in a nice portrait with a professional photographer. Wear a clean shirt, comb your hair, check your makeup. If you can’t smile without looking like you’re in pain, then just relax and look directly at the camera. That way, even if you don’t make it into the electoral office of your dreams, you’ll at least have a photograph you’ll be happy to send to your mom for Christmas. • Don Denton is photo supervisor for Black Press South Island. ddenton@vicnews.com
‘The reality is we do make choices based upon appearance.’