Yesterday, forty-nine fellow inhabitants of our world were murdered while they were worshiping in Mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The madness of this act is unfathomable. The fact that it happened in New Zealand is deeply saddening. New Zealand ranks number two in the Global Peace Index.
At times like this our hearts can get very dark and the darkness can be infectious. While we mourn the loss, we must not succumb to a hopeless apathy for the state of our world.
Regardless of what the media would like us to beleive, the vast majority of people in the world are good. They have their hopes and dreams. They have family and friends whom they love. They have jobs and projects and passions and beliefs and art. They are trying to live their lives as well as they can. They are the ones — and we count ourselves among them — who deserve attention and help and love and support.
Please, now more than ever, spread this word in whatever way you can.
My Best Wishes to All.
Michael
(Photo was shot on the South Island of New Zealand in June, 2018. Nikon D850; Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 VR zoom. RAW processing in DxO Pro; final editing in Adobe Photoshop.)
AMAGA Photography Blog 
Mike,
I agree with your sentiments. Crazy acts of violence greatly sadden me.
But, Damn! That photo takes my breath away. It’s gorgissimo!
Bravo!
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Thank you very much. Please forward the message to anyone and everyone you can. If the positive messages on the Internet outweigh the negative messages, we might get somewhere.
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Thank you for posting on this – we do not need more madness in this world. I try my best to stay positive, and we all should try – for the sake of our young and our future on this planet.
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Amen.
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Is it OK with you to reblog?
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Yes. Thank you very much. Send this message far and wide.
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I will.
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Reblogged this on Leya.
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Thanks very much.
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♥
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Thank you! Liz from Southland, South Island, New Zealand
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South Island New Zealand is my favorite place in the entire world. I am so sorry that this happened in such an otherwise wonderful place.
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With so much beauty here, how can this happen? I’m hoping to share a message of comfort and hope too in a while, we need to take comfort in all the good that exists and not give in to fear and despair!
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Anything positive you can send as far and wide as you can will have some benefit. I very much admired your PM’s statement this morning. But now let’s flood the world with positive messages.
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A truly beautiful shot made all the more poignant by your words. Thank you for posting both of them.
Frank
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Thanks very much.
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Well said and beautifully illustrated
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Thank you very much, Tina.
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Reblogged this on Travels and Trifles and commented:
I don’t ever reblog but there is a first time for everything. The idea of spreading a positive message to combat the darkness makes some sense to me. Like Many of us, my thoughts are with the peace-loving people of New Zealand tonight.
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Thank you very much, Tina. I am glad you’re spreading the word. Positive has to win out over negative, and we all have a responsibility in this.
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Wholeheartedly agree Michael.
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Came here from Tina’s reblog and well – the positivity is rippling 😉 – good post Michael
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Thank you very much. Let’s all keep moving it forward.
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Reblogged this on https://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com
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Reblogged this on Musin' With Susan and commented:
So incredibly sad. New Zealand is the most beautiful place that I have visited. No place in the world is safe from sick and demented people.
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Thank you very much, Susan. If we keep at it, positive will win out over negative. Spread the word.
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Reblogged on Musinwithsusan.
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Thank you. Let’s keep the positive message moving forward.
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Shedding some light in the darkness with beautiful words and image. Thank you, Michael.
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Thank you. Pass the message on. It’s durable.
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Reblogged this on P.A. Moed and commented:
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. ~Nelson Mandela
Hate and indifference must never triumph over love. After the horrific act of hatred in New Zealand, I’m sharing a message of love, hope and kindness with you all by re-blogging Michael Scandling’s beautiful post. Let’s fill the world with light after another senseless act of violence and hatred.
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Thank you very much. The world needs all the positive messages it can get.
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Thank you, Yvette. I loved the rest of your thoughts in your post. Be well.
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Stunning photo.
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Thanks. My tripod was still packed and I had to make do with resting the eight-pound beast of a camera/lens on the back of a lawn chair. I didn’t notice till later that in the Southern Hemisphere the rim of light appears on the left edge of the waxing crescent, rather than the right, as I’m used to seeing it in California.
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ANOTHER stunning work of art from you.
And your sentiments on the massacre in Christchurch were similarly eloquent.
I thought of you two the second I heard of the incident.
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Thanks Carolyn. Please spread the word on the message. The world could stand a bit of calming these days.
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Michael, your photographs are so peaceful and HEALING to gaze upon. They are a way or alternative to starting my day instead of turning on the news. Thank you for sharing your peace through words and pictures.
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Thank you. That is what they are meant to be. See http://www.amagaphoto.com for more.
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Michael, Your image is spectacular and a fitting tribute to the beauty and serenity of New Zealand. I wish the Kiwi people peace and healing in this terrible time in their history.
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Thank you very much, Jane. And as I said, yours too.
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Great, strong post, dear Michael! All what we need for the better! Thank you!
Best wishes,
Maria
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Thank you. Please pass the message on.
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I will, don’t worry!
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A beautiful image to accompany a good, strong statement. I continue to believe that these horrors, in the end, will stimulate a worldwide reaction, and a resurgence of tolerance, peace, and mutual respect.
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Thank you very much. Yes, the knee-jerk reaction would be to respond in kind. That would not be a very good move in the long run. Or, for that matter, even in the short run.
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Well said, with such a perfect image to drive it home. I was heartened to read this morning about the students in Christchurch performing the haka together…reminded me of the strength that students have shown here in the US in the aftermath of some of our shootings. I hope the kids get stronger and stronger. We need them.
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Yes. That is an excellent sign. New Zealand is an incredibly diverse country. And for the most part everybody works really well together.
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Well said, Michael. I agree that the world is filled with wonderful people. But the last few years have been a shock at the realization that there are so many awful as well, and it only takes one as we have seen. I wish I were better at expressing feelings at times like these, but your words are appreciated, as is your lovely image.
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It’s true that there are many awful people in the world. But there are many many many more decent people and that’s where we should put our attention. The awful people try really hard to be attention grabbers. I don’t want my attention to be grabbed in such a way as to give them more energy.
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It’s a difficult line that is drawn between emphasizing the good and shining a light on the bad. I made the decision a while ago to stay away from political posting while on Facebook and have rarely even hinted at my feelings on my blog. But I sometimes appreciate those who do which helps keep an awareness of what is happening below the surface of news reporting. I choose to believe that good will always triumph in the end.
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I agree with you 100%. Regarding politics I will say this: in my opinion and observation the closer you get to either end of the political spectrum the more it devolves to name calling and finger-pointing and statements that are utterly unsupportable. At the same time these extremes get to be more more exclusionary in many ways. In order for the society to survive it needs to be more inclusive and less exclusive. That’s what I think. That is all.
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We are of similar minds.
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I like that.
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Gorgeous image and excellent post.
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Thank you very much.
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Fantastic shot!
The composition is amazing! The tones in the sky make this combination perfectly!
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Thanks again!
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