Americo with prayer shawl, yamulke and guitar,
Segundo barrio, El Paso – July 26, 2008
Why do I ever leave my loft?
Went to the gym where a friend of over three years, a retired professor at the local university, someone who has never displayed anything but kindness and goodwill, out of the clear blue, no warning, told me “…the Jews got what they deserved after all the stuff they did as bankers in Germany, don’t you think?”
Wha-a-a-a-a-a?!
Then I went -make that ran– to the Segundo barrio, the neighborhood that hugs the border, in my head screaming “Sanctuary (as I have for over thirty years),”and met this guy, who was sitting in front of his house, playing the guitar and drinking a quart of King Cobra malt liquor. Friendly. I asked to take his picture. He jumped up, ran into his house and put on his prayer shawl and yamulke so he’d “be dressed” for his picture.
“I’m Jewish and I love God,” he declared.
Beautiful.
Muthone there are some vicious people on this planet…but, ah…there are some wonderful ones too. For every fool there is a delight. I hope. I’m not sure of the ratio. I know you have to look hard.
I guess that’s what photography is for me, the means of looking hard, the tool to remember to look hard.
I noticed he was missing the high E string and promised to find one for him. He said, “I knew some good wind blew you my way today. ”
It must have been the bankers…
