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Home Archives Archives 2006 Whipping Boy

Whipping Boy

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April 21, 2006

Whipping Boy

The sound lashed across the desert, chased by the sounds of men yelling. There, a hundred yards away, were two men, swinging whips at two other men.

I grabbed my camera and walked over, joining a group of several dozen Afghan men, all of whom were out here in the middle of the desert building a British military base. As I approached, I made a few photographs, then sat with them in the dust, shutter snapping all the while.

They were wildly dancing to avoid the snap of the lash.

The whips were made of tightly rolled cloth not animal hides so it did not seem to hurt much when the men got hit.

Much…

Finally, as supper time approached, everyone left to their tents before heading to the mess tent.

 

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