An early attempt of mine to reflect distress in the face of a young Yazidi refugee in Syria’s civil war under Assad. Unskilled though it is, it showed me the fine line that can exist between mirth and anguish in the human visage.
I confess to a proclivity (morbid?) for depicting faces in various states of contortion. A face at rest, unless it’s grizzled or reflective of a corrupt soul, has bland contours. States of agitation are what lay bare the deserts, mountains and swamps of the human physiognomy.
I cruise journalism and clip photos (jpegs) of mass rallies.
Often they’re filled with the faces of men who exhibit rage in their demeanors. All my life, Iran has chanted, Death to America, the great Satan!
Persian uses the Arabic alphabet. I’ve studied only Arabic.
Trump’s useless rejoinder referencing Iran has been, They’re scum.
From image of reporting on a demonstration against removing Confederate statuary. It illustrates contempt.
The two extremes, Satan and scum, do violence to the lived reality, complexity and vitality of two worthy populations duped into senseless contention by bad leaders. Most citizens of both countries deserve a better life than they’ve got.
As I zoom the photos and study the men’s expressions, I often imagine sitting with one in his living room, taking tea and conversing. Maybe arguing, maybe disagreeing, but not with violence. Parting with a handshake, or, better, a fraternal embrace.
(c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
EthicalDative 
Interesting observations, Jim. I guess social media, and mass media too, have affected how we interact with other people a lot. How do we break down these awful stereotypes and crude slurs that pass for communication. I love your artwork at the top – you’ve captured that mix of feelings perfectly.
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Thanks for the kind words, Sue. You articulate a hugely important question.
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