In journalism, they sum up political campaigns as “snapshots and sound bites.” Snapshots in the photo that tells a story, or that photo that is worth a thousand words. Sometimes these photos become an iconic photo that is mass produced and takes us back to a time and place the is memorable to us because of what happened. Sound bites are the phrases or quotes that sum up a person, event or story. Think back on some of the most successful political campaigns and unsuccessful too and you can probably say, “ yes, that snapshot or soundbite sums up what that candidate’s platform or campaign was or all about. Remember some of these:
-Michael Dukakis, photo with helmet-looking like a dork.
-George Bush, the father saying, “No more Taxes. Read my lips” in his second campaign for President.
-Hillary Clinton’s description of her opponent’s supporters as “ ”Deplorable's’ and smelly Walmart shoppers.”
-Consider Nixon’s vice-president, who took over when he resigned, Gerald Ford, whose opponent had buttons that said, “My name is Jimmy Carter and I’m running for President.”
-Ronald Reagan followed Carter with, “Let’s Make America Great Again,” so it’s not the first time we’ve heard MAGA-it wasn’t nearly as popular for Reagan.
-Ulysses S. Grant won his 1868 with “Let’s Have Peace.”
-When it came to Bill Clinton, I don’t recall a sound bite or photo that was memorable, but I do remember Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” which had a catchy tune and chorus that most Americans seemed to associate with him and his campaign and that time in America. A phrase that did seemed to stick with BC though was “…I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky…”
Covers of LIFE and LOOK magazines over the years.
Life and shortly after Look, magazine, were great examples of snapshots and soundbites. Life magazine was published weekly from 1883 to 1972 (Look every other week from 1937-1971). These magazines were a large format with mostly photographs followed by descriptive captions and not as much text. They were snapshots and soundbites that reflected what was going on in the world as well as human interest stories. The ‘golden age’ of these magazines were the forties through the sixties. If something significant was going on in the world Life and LOOK where there to capture it. They were the precursors to Instagram and X. They were magazines that prided themselves on quality photography from the most popular and talented photographers of their times. My parents subscribed to both, and I looked forward to the days when they arrived in the mail. I would sit on the front porch in the summer or on the couch in the winter and pour over the magazines, learning about places and events I never knew about. These periodicals were soundbites and snapshots of what was going on in the world while I was growing up.
Soundbites from these three famous leaders, Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Rosevelt and John F. Kennedy are still relevant today.
Snap shots and soundbites have also told incredible stories through history. Think of the pictures in history books about the trenches of WWI, the stock market crash of 1929, and the Great Depression. The photos of the Day invasion and photos from the death camps of Auschwitz. These snapshots tell the story of what happened in these significant events in history. Some of these photos are imprinted on our minds. They can sum up in a snapshot what thousands of words could tell us. Likewise, soundbites throughout history can sum up a time, a cause or generation. Think about “we have nothing to fear, but fear itself from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. think about quotes from Churchill during World War II like, “ the pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity and every difficulty.” His words inspired citizens of great Britain to continue their diligence with rations and sacrifices for the common good How long did the rationing go on in Great Britain after World War II? in their lives to save Europe from the evil of The Nazis, (these measures, the rations went on into 1954, so they were effective Ask not what your country can do for you but when you get what you can do for your country who said that and win). Think of John of Kennedy’s inaugural address, “ask not what not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” These soundbites not only stick with the generation who heard them but also generations to follow.
Soundbites & snapshots can reflect a relationship, in the words and pictures that seemed to sum up a relationship between a parent and a child, a parent and a grandparent, a romantic relationship, or relationship between spouses. They can be good soundbites in the best of relationships and they can be bad soundbites as well on the contrary. You may reflect on photos that have been saved through the years, framed to remember family members who had a special place in you life in or you may recall in a conversation, remembering these loved ones words of wisdom they might have given to you about life. The opposite can have an impact on one’s life negatively, which might reflect in harsh self talk about oneself down the road or pictures of people not displayed in photos or photo albums and kept in the back of our mind as a reflection not to be reminded of…
Soundbites and snapshots can also be keepsakes and archives of those no longer with us. They might be a favorite photo of a loved one, or ourselves with that loved one, they can be phrases from letters they wrote us or videos and eulogies that sum up their lives. A friend from high school recently passed away. At his funeral both of his teenage sons spoke as well as a close nephew, in his thirties who had a very meaningful relationship with Larry through his formative years. Jordan read an essay he had written about his uncle. He wrote and described all of the things that he will miss about his Uncle Larry with examples of each. Most memorable to me, (paraphrasing here) was “Uncle Larry taught me that it’s important to show up for those you love and care for. He showed me this by taking me to an event of one of his close friends on a special occasion in his life. Again, paraphrasing here, but Jordan described the event and how he and Uncle Larry went out for a drink afterwards and Larry to explain to Jordan the significance of being there for the close people in your life and their special moments.” Those are the soundbites in Jordan’s life that summed up the impact of his dear Uncle Larry, gone way too young at age 61.
So what are the soundbites and snapshots of your life? Are they the same soundbites and snapshots that those you love would reflect on as well? Are they the soundbites in snapshots that you would want to be remembered of? When I think of Larry‘s funeral in the words his sons, nephew Jordan, and a long time close friend, ‘Vegas,’ who shared in their words, the snapshots and soundbites of Larry’s life I think he would be very proud of how he was remembered by them, and I have thought of that over the last couple weeks since his passing. The good news is that we have a chance, as long as we’re here, to control those soundbites and snapshots by creating good memories in the way we treat the people around us. There are times when I see people out in the world who misbehave or treat people poorly and I’ll think to myself “is that how they want to be remembered?” I see it when I see foolish people on TV and in the news. I say over and over again, none of us are perfect. We all mess up here and there, those instances, as long as they’re not how one would describe us, are part of being human and being alive. However, when you look at the body of ones life, what is the common denominator of how they treat people and how they spend their time which is what is important. A passage from the Bible in the New Testament comes to mind, Matthew 6:21,”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I would add, that’s where the snapshots will come from, and the sound bites that sum up your life, with actions, speaking louder than words which show up in the pictures.
A few of the snapshots of my life ❤️
It’s nice when you have physical pictures or pictures on your phone to remember a life well lived or words in text or spoken in videos for those soundbites. There’s something tangible to remember it’s nice because it’s something you can touch or hear to remember a loved one. Also, they are the photos/snapshots that are embedded in our mind in the sounds that we will recall the rest of our lives in memories that will be with us for always. For some, it’s the memories from a childhood sitting around a table, or the car rides on a family vacation or the prayers at bedtime. No matter where you are in life there’s always time to add to those memories, that will be snapshots and soundbites for you and those love. Something to consider…Wishing you a great day ❤️
