Two incidents on the peace corner
Trip Start
Nov 25, 2006
1
54
103
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Vista Sol Apartments
El Paso, Texas
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
1) It happened to be Good Friday. I happened to be holding a very stark black-and-white sign that declared in bold letters: "Too Many People Have Died." A couple passed me. The woman stopped, looked me in the eye, paused, then asked me, "Did you know that my son was killed in Iraq last week?"
2) Not as dramatic...but memorable, nevertheless. It was a different Friday. As I watched, a group of middle aged folks approached, dressed business-casual. They were wearing lanyard I.D. tags around their necks, apparently professionals. One man about my age got close to me, looked me in the eye, and his face twisted with contempt, spat out: "Get a job!" I was so taken aback at this breach in civility, that my own response was to look at him with a face full of concern for his own well-being. I was speechless, but my soul was crying "Are you OK?" so loudly that he looked back at me after he had passed by 15 feet.
I still wonder if he is OK.
