Italian Photographer Shot.

Let's give a thought to fellow photographer, Italian Fabio Polenghi, shot and killed whilst covering the Red Shirt demonstrations in Bangkok.. He was killed in the line of duty..

http://abcnews.go.com …nal/wireStory?i​d=10687714

RIP.

sad, esp since he was wearing a bp vest and helmet...

Thanks for giving notice to this

yogestee wrote in post #10286580
He was killed in the line of duty..

Bullshi t.

He didn't do this because he had to. He did it, because it was his passion. Something much more important than "I just did this because my paper sent me". Yes, I do realize how important it can be for people to go on these assignments, but photographers who document war, people like Robert Capa, and Fabio Polenghi, they could have chosen something completely different. They could have declined the assignment, and nobody would have thought any the worse of them.

Yet, they choose to document these things. Because they think it is important. Important for people back in safe countries, where they come from, to know that there is still conflict in the world.

That's why they did it. Not because they were told to.

Maybe you are missing some cultural innuendos of "line of duty". At least here in America it's a term of endearment and calls us to think of great pride. "Line of Duty" to me, at least, is a term that honors the one who PUT himself in that predicament in order to serve his cause. I think that's what the OP means. And that's exactly what you are saying.

Jonta wrote in post #10290403
He didn't do this because he had to. He did it, because it was his passion.

...

That's why they did it. Not because they were told to.

Duty (from "due," that which is owing, O. Fr. deu, did, past participle of devoir; Lat. debere, debitum; cf. "debt") is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something

Sounds like he did his duty to me.

tfizzle wrote in post #10290861
Maybe you are missing some cultural innuendos of "line of duty".

I was not brought up in a country where children are indoctrinated with patriotism at school. So of course, I cannot understand the meaning of this in its entirety. Let it be noted that Fabio Polenghi comes from Italy, where "line of duty" also has a different meaning than it does in the US.

Of course, opinions are different on this. Probably my main qualm with OP saying "He was killed in the line of duty..". It implies that Fabio Polenghi sheepishly followed an order to go somewhere and do something, instead of making a conscious decision of doing so. And this makes a whole lot of difference to me.

"Line of Duty" to me, at least, is a term that honors the one who PUT himself in that predicament in order to serve his cause. I think that's what the OP means. And that's exactly what you are saying.

We're probably on a pretty even footing on the whole, yes.

Ainoko wrote in post #10290894
Duty (from "due," that which is owing, O. Fr. deu, did, past participle of devoir; Lat. debere, debitum; cf. "debt") is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something

Sounds like he did his duty to me.

"Line of duty" means something completely different than just the words bunched together. It is an idiom, and therefore it is unfair to analyse parts of it seperately without considering the whole. That's why the "debt" part doesn't enter into this situation at all, because Fabio did not have any debt to humanity to do what he did.

Anyway, like I said; we're probably on quite an even footing here, even though there are cultural differences which can stir things up a bit.

Jonta wrote in post #10291107
I was not brought up in a country where children are indoctrinated with patriotism at school. So of course, I cannot understand the meaning of this in its entirety. Let it be noted that Fabio Polenghi comes from Italy, where "line of duty" also has a different meaning than it does in the US.Of course, opinions are different on this. Probably my main qualm with OP saying "He was killed in the line of duty..". It implies that Fabio Polenghi sheepishly followed an order to go somewhere and do something, instead of making a conscious decision of doing so...

Then perhaps you might want to seek clarification as to what the OP, who is Australian I believe, meant by "line of duty." Again, in the United States, the idiom is often used for people who have lost their life while admirably carrying out a dangerous occupation, often in reference to police, but it is applicable for firemen and soldiers. Whether the fallen did his or her job for money, passion, or both is irrelevant, since they nevertheless suffered the greatest sacrifice. Yes, in America, someone who selflessly gives for the greater good is culturally valued, and you know what, I think that is probably true in your culture too.

If, and I stress if, you are claiming that American children are indoctrinated with patriotism at school, then you are misguided, and perhaps you've been indoctrinated to hold such a derogatory view of US pedagogical practices (at least in terms of ideologies inculcated), which actually vary greatly from locality to locality. Our inability to teach math(s), reading, and writing; well that's a whole other issue. And as for our university/college system, whatever pro-US values were drilled in at the primary and secondary levels are largely excised with pro-Marxists teachings.

Anyway, I'm signing out of this thread, but I always welcome PMs.

Jonta wrote in post #10291107
I was not brought up in a country where children are indoctrinated with patriotism at school. So of course, I cannot understand the meaning of this in its entirety.

From dictionary.com:

du·ty
   /

ˈdu

[IMAGE TOO SMALL, NOT RENDERED INLINE]

ti,

ˈdyu-/

[GIFS ARE NOT RENDERED IN QUOTES]

Show Spelled[doo-tee, dyoo-] http://dictionary.refe​rence.com/help/luna/Sp​ell_pron_key.html Show IPA
–noun,plural-ties.

1.
something that one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation.
2.
the binding or obligatory force of something that is morally or legally right; moral or legal obligation.

In your first post in this thread, you gave an excellent description of how this photographer went over there because he felt a moral obligation, in other words a sense of duty, to document what was happening. You obviously understand the concept and you appear to respect him for having done what he considered to be his duty.

So with that in mind, one of the following statements is true:

A: You are more "indoctrinated with patriotism" than you realized.

B: Your insinuation that children in America are indoctrinated was misguided, ignorant and, to use your words, bullshi t.

I didn't want this thread to turn into an argument on semantics, which it has.. I wanted to bring to your attention the death of a fellow photographer who was killed doing his job (his duty as a photojournalist).. He was probably a freelancer who sells his images to whatever publication that will buy them..

I think some of you are missing the point,, the death of a fellow photographer doing what he enjoys doing whether it was "in the line of duty" or not..

On a side note,, as I come from a photojournalism background, I was asked by an old colleague to accompany him to Bangkok (I live within an hour's flight from Bangkok) but had to decline because of other work commitments.. I thought really hard about going..

The term "line of duty" was meant as a positive comment and should be taken that way. This is an international forum and some phrases will mean different things to people. Let's honor this photographer's memory by considering what he did and how he died and by not engaging in arguments.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #10291930
The term "line of duty" was meant as a positive comment and should be taken that way. This is an international forum and some phrases will mean different things to people. Let's honor this photographer's memory by considering what he did and how he died and by not engaging in arguments.

Here, here!!

RIP Mr. Polenghi. Without men and women like him - those who bring images of conflict, suffering, joy and triumph into the lives of everyone around the world, opening countless eyes to a part of the world they would never have seen otherwise - we would all live in a much different and more ignorant world.

Jonta wrote in post #10290403
Bullshi t.
He didn't do this because he had to. He did it, because it was his passion.

We can say this for every soldier killed, we can say this for every policeman killed, for every fireman killed, hell we can say this for every driver, cyclist or pedestrian killed in road accident. They could all choose different job or hobby, and they wouldn't need to be there.

This post is about the tragic death of a fine photographer, not the meaning of "Line of Duty".
Rest in peace Fabio.
bc