Young Hong/Reaction Essay/Writing & Rhetoric 1-3

A Mother's Love


A mother's love is the most profound, absolute sort of love. It is, I
believe, the strongest form of love that exists. I found 2 photographs
that captured the love and affection mothers have for their kids. The
first photo was taken back in 2009, in Peshawar, Pakistan by a
journalist called Adrees Latif. The second was taken in Sao Paulo,
Brazil, 2013 by Nacho Doce. Both photos are from different times,
different countries but they both depict the warmth of a mother's
care.
In the first photo, the mother is holding her child in a detention
centre. Even though they are both about to get deported back to their
country, the mother is clutching her child and enveloping him in a
protective embrace. It is touching how a mother's world can be
revolved around her child. The photo does not show whether she has any
belongings other than the clothes she is wearing which enables us to
think that she is from a humble background. However, the way she is
holding on to her baby looks like as if she is holding on to the most
precious gem on Earth. Regardless of the dire situation she and her
child is in, it is obvious with crystal clarity that as long as she
has her baby in her arms, she is home.
In the second heartwarming photograph, a transgender woman and her
husband is showing their marriage certificate to her mother. Their
outfits show that they have just finished their wedding ceremony.
Although it is not always easy for parents to accept changes in their
children, this mother shows that through love she is willing to
concede. Even though the change may bring upon condemnation from the
vast majority of society. One might speculate that the mother in the
picture is looking carefully at the certificate in order to see that
there is nothing amiss. The light smile of the newly-wedded husband
shows hope in his mother-in-law's acceptance. This photo proves that
at the end of the day no matter what transformation her child
undergoes, physical or not, a mother will stand by her child.
The differences of the two photographs are that they are both taken
in different countries and of people from different cultural
backgrounds. The biggest contrast, to me, is the difference in age
group of the two kids. One is a grown woman, in what must be the
happiest day of her life. The other is an infant who can barely
comprehend the situation he and his mother is in. However, despite all
these differences in age and background, there is one distinct
similarity which the photos show: the unconditional love and devotion
of mothers for their children.