eclectic imaging
Oh!
Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 21 May 2009 in Art & Design.
Regular visitors of this blog know that I don't share every opinion coming from the Vatican, or Pope Benedict in particular. All the more surprising is the Pope's message "New Technologies, New Relationships." for the 43rd World Day of Communications. Amongst other things that I would basically second it reads:
"[...] it is gratifying to note the emergence of new digital networks that seek to promote human solidarity, peace and justice, human rights and respect for human life and the good of creation. These networks can facilitate forms of co-operation between people from different geographical and cultural contexts that enable them to deepen their common humanity and their sense of shared responsibility for the good of all. We must, therefore, strive to ensure that the digital world, where such networks can be established, is a world that is truly open to all." (full text)
With this in mind, it's quite ironical for me to compare these words with recent pamphlets and activities of the German government, whose insinuators (a.k.a. 'lobbyists') are going to establish full control on everybody's Internet traffic, while defaming and criminalizing tech-savvy people. I don't know if the Pope would be the better firewall admininstrator, but things have reached a pretty pass when this document from the Vatican reads like a message full of dewy-eyed optimism, compared to the shocking news about terrorism and paedophiliacs in the Web issued by our government.
(The Pope's message ends with a request for evangelizing the web through young Catholics. I'm not so good in evangelizing, but if you appreciate the beauty of some of the buildings I'm presenting here every now and then, I'm comfortable with this. :-)
Image: St. Andreas, Düsseldorf
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Canon EOS 300D
1/50 second
F/5.6
ISO 1600
18 mm