I was reading an article online about a car accident (or bombing or plane crash) on a major news site. The picture that accompanied the article was of a single shoe laying in the middle of the road. We are led to believe this is an actual on the scene photo and the shoe is from a victim who has died.
I’m not buying it.
Every accidental death report uses some version of this picture.
I imagine that sometimes people get blown out of their shoes. But more often, I suspect the reporter or cameraman places their own shoe for this photo op. Or even worse, they use stock photos.
I get it. This image has become symbolic for a death.
But really —- what a crock of horseshit.
If someone dies in a tragic accident, I think we are all human enough to feel sad about it and to place ourselves in the victim or victim’s family’s shoes. Literally (ha).
We don’t need a trite cliche to remind us.