Children of War
Every gun that is fired, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
The world in arms is not spending money alone.
It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. — Dwight D. Eisenhower
Kabul, Afghanistan, 1992
Kabul, Afghanistan, 1993
Luzon, Philippines, 1986
Beirut, Lebanon, 1982
Kuwait City, 1991
A landmine victim, Pul i Khumri, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, 1992
Shepherd boy at Al Ahmadi, Kuwait, 1991
Kandahar, Afghanistan, 1985
Child with Dutch Soldier, Afghanistan, 2002
Tamil Tigers recruits during training, west of Batticola, Sri Lanka, 1995
Kabul, Afghanistan, 1992
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November 14, 2009 at 2:15 am
Moving…
-Pawan
November 14, 2009 at 3:04 am
I’ve been subscribing to your blog since the inimitable Sartorialist mentioned it in one of his posts. Have admired your work since, well, before I knew it was your work. My parents had hundreds of National Geographics piled up on our bookshelves in Australia in the 80s and even as a kid I’d always look at you iconic cover of the girl and wonder about her. All of the photos you feature here are extraordinary but there’s something about your photos of children that makes them even more special. Today’s post is beautiful. Heartwrenching but beautiful.
November 14, 2009 at 8:53 am
Some of these pictures are had to take in Steve! To be there in the midst of all would be even be a lot harder! It mustn’t be easy at all bringing out your photographic tallent when emotion and feeling are so high! I’m sad to be the first to comment on this thread!
. (I don’t think it’s religion but miscrewed religion and dirty politics! that creates wars!
November 14, 2009 at 8:59 am
Steve out of curiosity, when you are on such assignments (for example : Tamil Tiger recruits training) is your appearance pre-arranged in advance with thier leaders etc.. Or do you randomly appear on site and shoot? (obviouly I understand you also ask permission if you randomly appeared on site.
November 16, 2009 at 2:27 am
Very moving. Thanks for reminding us that there is really nothing to gain from war especially for our future generation.
November 16, 2009 at 3:59 am
I am big fan of yours. I want to be photgrapher. I am in intial stage of photography. I am inspired by your photography. You are amazing
November 16, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Dear Steve, Thank for your moving pics and thoughts. WAR whether International Civil or mere riot does not pay. I come from Africa where our leaders seems to think civil war is a prerequisite for good governance. In Kenya 2007/8 We had 1300 people die just because some political leaders felt they had to win an election. This happens every five years although the last one almost sent our country into full scale ethnic civil war.
We the people of the world need to say enough is enough and discard all the weapons and arms, and embrace each other.
why start a war and then seek to have a ceasefire truce so as to negotiate??
bravo Steve AND PEACE TO THE WORLDS
November 17, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Thanks for all those images. It is a sad necessity that we in our comfortable western world need these wake-up calls. And reality is still much more cruel than the images can (and maybe shall) transport. My generation, that was brought up in the longest peaceful period that we ever had in Central Europe, simply has not the slightest idea any more about the cruelties of war. Instead death is made an all too common pattern for daily TV entertainment. It’s hard to escape depression when recognizing the deplorable reality.
November 19, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Wake up call- I wonder if anyone is really listening!
Kudos to you for posting these images and the message on Veterans Day. Celebrations were hounding 5th Avenue in NYC that day, and although I understand that the soldiers give it all, and deserve respect and command awe…the jubilation cannot distract me from that absolute truth that is war. Heinous, always.
November 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm
“Moving” is too a weak word.
This post brought me to a reflection: it’s easy for us, far from any war since decades, to cry against war and arms. But if you grow up in war, if you are used to play with guns, if you saw since your really first years killing, deaths and bombs, well it’s much easier that you will consider war the normality, that you’ll have little doubts in becoming a soldier, a rebel or a terrorist. We should consider this when we talk about stopping wars or terrorism. Our view point is so far from theirs. What do you think?