Broad Destruction

Posted by Twelvebit (Victoria, United States) on 14 July 2008 in Cityscape & Urban.

Austin Image 8

Thanks to those of you who have been viewing and commenting in a vacuum. I haven't been able to look and respond for awhile, but I hope to catch up today.

There were two groups preaching on the street corner in that den of iniquity known as Austin's 6th street --one of my favorite places in Austin. These guys were "soap boxing it," yelling out their message to passers by, with the guy in the hat occasionally playing the trumpet (and as a trumpet player myself I greatly enjoyed that part of the show). On the corner where I stood taking this shot was a quieter group passing out their message in pamphlet form, with occasional attempts at more personal communication.

On Wednesday, I'll continue with the street preaching theme and related images.

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Comments (15)

Daryl from Amagasaki, Japan

That's quite a... complicated ... banner! Must have taken some work...

14 Jul 2008 10:28am

@Daryl: For all I know there is an Evangelical store where you can buy these.

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

Well taken! I think that the theoretical fundaments of this preacher are a little bit to weak to be able to convince me. A preacher with a Stetson looks quite exotic to me, btw.
But depending on the FED's decision for or against inflation they could be right.

14 Jul 2008 11:32am

@MadScientist: Well, that may be the irony...they may be right, but for all the wrong reasons.

I got quite a long sermon from the group on the other corner, but as you say, it's far from convincing --on even just a purely logical basis-- and besides, I'd heard it all before --many times.

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

Those legs keenly remind me of the broad way to destruction I've been traveling for some time now.

14 Jul 2008 11:51am

@Ronnie 2¢: And that is exactly the notion I intended to covey. But in our defense, we probably can't help ourselves.

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

I don't know why anyone thinks preaching on a street corner is a good idea. They all look foolish and you've captured them well.

14 Jul 2008 1:26pm

@sherri: I think living in Arkansas you must know what their answer to that would be. They're "called" to warn the sinner.

Personally, I think the explanation is mainly psychological, and has a lot more to do with fear and ego. Here I reference "The True Believer," by Eric Hoffer --which is about all "true believers" --all believers of dogma-- not just the religious kind.

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

We are all Doomed, so let's live it up while we can. Very well caught 12b

14 Jul 2008 4:39pm

@Observing: Yes, but as I said to MS, the irony here is that though they may be right about the destination, their grasp of the travel plans are, at best, very shaky.

danthro from Suburbia, United States

cool capture! was that woman in the blue preaching too?

14 Jul 2008 6:06pm

@danthro: A different doctrine perhaps, something more up my alley.

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

The woman on the left, i would join whatever group she belongs to. Too much fire and brimstone at first i would be amused but then move on after awhile.

14 Jul 2008 9:21pm

@JoeB: You'd have liked the rest of the group --she had some very interesting friends as well.

gbe from kansas city, United States

agree about the woman in blue...great shot

14 Jul 2008 10:37pm

@gbe: Just another typical female Texan. You get used to it. But seriously, with UT just a few blocks away, and some 25,000 young females ranging from about 18-22 in the vicinity (assuming the UT student body is 50% female), there are probably a disproportionate number of attractive women in certain areas of Austin. However, my son is in Beijing right now, and he says Austin doesn't hold a candle to Beijing in this regard.

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

Beautiful shot, teaching a lot about American street culture. You Americans share with us Dutch that we try to convince other people that they should be converted to what we think is right. The result is a free and tolerant society in which not the army or a tyrant urges to think and say what they find is right (namely their power). I find, BTW, that the narrow path is broader than most people think but try to convince others (and even yourself) of it :)!

14 Jul 2008 10:51pm

@Illuci: In this country, many cities don't have the kind of street culture you have in Europe, because the cities essentially operate only on a 9am to 5 pm corporate schedule. People live in the suburbs and drive into work in the morning and leave at night. 6th Street in Austin, where this was taken, does have a life outside the corporate schedule, and I think city life is slowly developing in some other Texas cities. Downtown San Antonio has some street life mainly because it is a big tourist area.

I like to be in cities where there is a vibrant city life beyond the working hours and a diverse street culture. I like to see it all going on --street preaching, performance artists, musicians, families, people enjoying themselves, and even some of the seedier stuff. New Orleans used to be a great example of this before Katrina, but I don't know what it's like now.

Persian King from Tehran, Iran

Cowboy had, formal dress and open mouth, very nice shot, priceless

15 Jul 2008 1:49am

lisa v from Gawler, Australia

Something you don't ever see in Australia, we're remarkably non-religious. A very well shot and very interesting photo .

15 Jul 2008 2:25am

@lisa v: You're going to have me looking for a job there.

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

wow. yep gotta love this phenomenon...! we have it here in Cali too... but not as much as where you are i am sure! great shot and anecdote!

15 Jul 2008 3:06am

Sandy from Ontario, United States

Alot going on in this one, Vegas is another "den of iniquity" Lots of preachers there too! Very well done!

15 Jul 2008 3:12am

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

I find the lady should be clothed more decently, she distracts people from the narrow way :(.

16 Jul 2008 9:02pm

Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States

Loved your remarks to danthro...somehow, I'm not surprised.

We don't see this around my neck of the woods. Occasionally we'll have the "Right to Life" people picket the local Planned Parenthood, but that's pretty much it.

17 Jul 2008 2:02pm

@Melissa W.: I'm not sure which remarks you mean --since I've made a lot of remarks to danthro.

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Nikon D40
1/200 second
F/5.6
ISO 800
150 mm (35mm equiv.)