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"I photographed this young boy on a rainy day in Lahore. For me, this image highlights the youngster's confidence - and even joy - in the thick of traffic. Metaphorically speaking, it could be an image of the hope, confidence, and strength needed to cope with the daily struggles of life in Pakistan." - Arif Ali / White Star
What do you think Arif's image symbolises? Has he captured a moment of strength or danger? What images of optimism have you recently seen?
Dawn.com invites its readers to submit images that capture moments of strength and happiness in otherwise dark times to photos@dawn.com. The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
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Comments (32) Closed
Jan 22, 2010 05:37pm
Slightly dangerous situation....Quick help the boy!
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Dec 29, 2009 08:22am
I don
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Dec 29, 2009 08:00am
Well I think as adults, it is our ignorance that we do not give proper care and attention that our children need. This child could have been hit by any car any time.
Trying to be a good citizen and where I can showing the right path to others.
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Dec 29, 2009 08:16am
This image depicts the selfishness of an otherwise helping society - which refrains from helping others if it has to walk the difficult path. This child gained strength because those in the vehicles didn't come out.
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Dec 29, 2009 07:52am
Rain in Karachi is something unique, how we used to dread getting stuck in the traffic, hoping our cars wouldn
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Dec 29, 2009 08:22am
Ignored by the adults and the little boy oblivious to the danger from the coming traffic he tries to cross the road.
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Dec 29, 2009 08:26am
Sorry Arif,
It doesn't symbolize anything. But to me it looks like a
1) Kid who is lost looking for his parents
2) Kid running to get a shelter in the midst of confusion.
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Dec 29, 2009 08:48am
The message is how you present it and how presenter perceives life. Arif is an optimist so he looks at it with optimism. We are a pessimist nation so I am sure most of us will shrug the positive feel in it.
Good try and agree with you. It looks nice and positive.
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Dec 29, 2009 08:50am
I am glad that's not my kid. The picture scares me on more then one front.
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Dec 29, 2009 08:52am
I think its carelessness of parents that a little boy is trying to cross the road by himself. Anything can happen i.e. he can slip or the brakes of an incoming car can fail.
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Dec 29, 2009 08:55am
I think this picture symbolize how careless parents are of this kid how have actually ignored that in how much danger there kid is.
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Dec 29, 2009 09:27am
Although I have doubts but, if this picture is real and not a crafted one then, the thing that impresses me most about this picture is the extent to which parents obey their children today. It also shows our failure in protecting conventional parental care of children and allowing them find their own means and devices to survive. This is simply a defiance of humanity. I hope my fears are only ill-founded.
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Dec 29, 2009 09:30am
If minimum optimism is anything to go by, this picture depicts a Pakistani, oblivious to his surroundings, being defiant, showing confidence and being a bit careless while having fun in the face of present adversities.
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Dec 29, 2009 09:38am
What would photographer do if this child is his son or younger brother? Would he still be capture the moment with his camera or would he run after this child in order to save him?
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Dec 29, 2009 09:54am
Children crossing the busy roads is a common sight on roads. It always scares me. However I do not agree with the views of Imtiaz and Nazam that the picture symbolizes the carelessness of parents. Have you ever seen children of the rich ever crossing the roads like this? It is often the kids from middle and poor sections who are left unattended, not because their parents are careless, but they can't afford one-to-one care for their children.
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Dec 29, 2009 10:01am
Optimistic? I hope the Kid is safe! It
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Dec 29, 2009 10:32am
The traffic may be stopped at a traffic signal as all the vehicles are in line. If this is the case, then all the viewpoints are irrelevant and the picture does not suggest anything special; children crossing the road at traffic signals is a common happening.
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Dec 29, 2009 11:29am
Hi!
This photograph evokes feelings of horror. It shows just how dangerous a little carelessness can be !
Rehan
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Dec 29, 2009 08:03pm
This picture symbolizes a poor third world child who has to become street smart and independent early on to survive. A child of that age from the developed world would have child services, police or total strangers looking after him/her.
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Dec 29, 2009 10:01pm
Hi Arif
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Dec 30, 2009 01:45am
It
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Dec 30, 2009 04:29am
Arif if you would have clicked the boy smiling and enjoying in the rain then your interpretation might have hold true but here I guess the boy is just crossing the road :D
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Dec 30, 2009 04:11pm
When I look at this picture I see sadness. It makes me sad to see this little boy wet, cold and alone, running in front of traffic. Why would one think there is anything positive in this photo.
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Dec 30, 2009 05:52pm
Don't know about optimism. Looks dangerous and depicts a sad state of affairs. This little kid has no adult to help him cross this dangerous road. Plus there is no zebra crossing if this is a traffic signal. And if its not the photographer should have been helping the kid rather than waiting for a car to hit him.
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Dec 30, 2009 09:44pm
I would like to think that the traffic has stopped for the child to cross - but unlikely.
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Dec 31, 2009 03:51am
You can look at this picture and be hopeful or dreadful. I choose hope and confidence and wish luck to Pakistani kids and they do need lot of luck.
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Dec 31, 2009 06:23am
Extremely dangerous, seems the vehicle ready to target innocent. If any of you could see an already running bus on the very left side. In sheer optimism one must not ignore the hazards of traffic a young child (who 's not supposed to cross road alone) could face.
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Jan 02, 2010 04:09am
If I would be in place of this photographer I would have hold this young boy to cross the road instead of taking his photo. I don't see any optimism in this picture. But to see this picture we can assume the boldness of Pakistani Nation which is surrounded from all sides in dangers this time. Allah May protect us from our enemies. Ameen
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Jan 03, 2010 05:19pm
It does not reflect the mindset of a civilized society to be happy and heroic seeing such a kid running in rain. It is no joy. May be young child is terrified instead of enjoying rain. We must be ashamed to portray such situation as heroic. I simply ask one question from the gentleman who took this snap. Will he allow his child or brother to cross road in this manner.
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Jan 04, 2010 08:22pm
The picture symbolizes our youth, its strength and the obstacles it has to face in search for the right direction. Once the child crosses the road, that could possibly mark the beginning of a new era, a revolution!
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Jan 05, 2010 08:50pm
'Ignorance / no respect for rules by Pakistanis' would be my guess.
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Jan 06, 2010 04:10am
The photographer should have helped the youth cross the road, who was risking his life doing so. Wake up you guys, this is not national geographic and you are not photographing an animal and watching mother nature do its business. This is a human child, a Pakistani child - who is no doubt a struggler but could have gotten hurt, while this photographer was taking his "best shot".
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