AP Photos

One of the perks of working at a newspaper is having access to view AP photos from around the world. Thousands of photos come through the wire, and every-so-often I peruse through a handful or two.

It makes me realize that the title of my blog is more of a "glass half empty" mindset than what I had intended. From this Vantage Point, which is really from one angle, one point of view. There are many points of view. I have American-from-the-south point of view, molded from a quarter of a century of upbringing as well as trial and error actions of my own. I've met people visiting my region from other regions, and I've visited other regions of the globe as well.

But the hurt I see in Pakistan, and the Israeli conflicts, and people hurt by earthquakes and floods, mixed with a little bit of the European Champion's League photos as well as rugby and cricket is all more than what I can view merely from my one vantage point.

Makes me realize that there is more out there, but there is one thing I have to remember. I need to remember that viewing the photos from around the world on the AP wire, these photos are the news. There's also the everyday snap shots that don't make it on here from family and friends. There's hurt, we all share hurt in one form or another, but there's also happiness and joy. It doesn't matter what language we speak or village we live in, happiness is happiness, no matter the vantage point.

(A Kashmiri protester throws a stone at a paramilitary vehicle after it was set afire during a demonstration against the Indian general elections, in Srinagar, India, Tuesday, April 28, 2009. The election campaign in India is a multi phase national poll which embraces the elaborate caste system, ethnic groups and historical ties.(AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan).