Conversation against the odds
The story begins with a dream a sparkle in two parents eye. A life, a new beginning, a big house, wealth and support for other family members back home. A boy with a big smile and a heart for christ. Hector becomes an alter boy in East Los Angeles.
School becomes difficult as his family attempts to relocate outside of East La. They are moving to Hollywood. Bright lights and streets with gold stars and dense traffic behind the tensile town theme.
His father becomes disenchanted with unstable work. Hector has to help, and becomes delinquent in school it.
In time his father succumbs to alcohol and leaves. Hector becomes the head of the house hold and helps his mother. At a sweat shop he is rounded and deported.
Life changes and to save what he calls male pride. He heads to Chiapas. He said, "Here I can be a man, be proud of myself and for whatever I do. for the right of innocent people".
"Just think I could have stayed in LA and run with blonds. It's alright you know, I would have waisted my life there. Get shot while carrying groceries home, or come across the wrong cop after a party. "
I came away realizing that I'd never trade places with him, or would I. In his mind he is at the top of his world. It's not my world and I know, he's got the gun and that's a different world than my camera or what my goals are.
I respect him for his decisions. It's not my place to tell him any thing. Just try to understand and listen even if his actions are not your option.
18 Responses
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On 16 May 2008 Chris Whitney said:
Glenn-I get nervous just looking at that gun and can't imagine being this close to interact/take a pic.
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On 16 May 2008 Karen Zimmerman gave props:
As usual--WOW! Where, when, what,why...? Love it and fear it.
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On 16 May 2008 Angel Foice gave props:
Glenn, your photos are amazing. always filled with emotion. once again, well done
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On 16 May 2008 Supreet Sethi gave props:
quite a charged picture
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On 16 May 2008 Frederic Frognier gave props:
Wonderful image
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On 16 May 2008 Fran Ott said:
Well done, powerful image. I like how you made your subject stand out from the background.
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On 16 May 2008 Gary Fudge gave props:
Interesting exchange. Great image and story.
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On 16 May 2008 John Linton said:
When our country ratified the Constitution in 1788 only men who owned enough property could vote; the President was elected by the Electoral College-a group of individuals selected by each state-which were not required to vote the same way the propertied men had voted (this is still true), the Congressional Senators were “elected” by their respective state legislatures, and only the Congressional members of the House of Representatives were truly elected by the propertied males. This is what passed for “all men are created equal” back in the day because the framers of the Constitution did not trust the “common man.”
It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that we truly tried to get a handle on the widespread disenfranchisement that had been a hallmark of our election process (“vote early, and often” was another hallmark in the good ol’ days).
Our rule of law is largely based (as it is everywhere else) on the protection of property. The Haves have always distrusted the Have-Nots. They may loosen the restrictions over time, but it is usually done with a great deal of reluctance and at what may be seen as an agonizingly slow pace.
Throughout our history the Haves have not hesitated to place those they perceived as a threat on reservations, in internment camps, or detention camps while conveniently forgetting whole passages of the Bill of Rights. That is unless they decided to heed General Curtis LeMay’s words and “Bomb them back to the stone age.”
Unfortunately, "Do as I say, not as I do," seems to be the only advice we can give. Hatred can not win in the end, but it can cause such suffering in the mean time. -
On 16 May 2008 Jim Robertson gave props:
I'm far removed from his world but I understand. Great photo and story.
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On 16 May 2008 Donna Beeler said:
Very moving Glen..so much truth in that photo..more than we will ever know.
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On 16 May 2008 Nelson Campbell gave props:
Please, keep it up. Thanks,
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On 17 May 2008 Kevin Kabuki gave props:
Your comments, and your unwillingness to judge, shows much. A great shot, a wonderful example of non-judgment.
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On 18 May 2008 Maria Moreno gave props:
Powerful image and, very touching story.
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On 20 May 2008 Portia Söderberg gave props:
great shot Glenn! Fantastic capture of expression.
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On 21 May 2008 Ronnie Ginnever said:
Glenn, you are a seeker of truth. You have the amazing gift of courage, ability and authenticity. You are "allowed in" into the lives, the hearts and minds of those we see in your powerful images. You are what Democracy is about.
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On 22 May 2008 Mojca S. said:
"Love all the people" doesn't mean you like their acts or their choice of behaviour. But you don't judge those persons as bad. All people are spiritual souls. No one is wiser or better than anybody else. We are all rewarded with free will and free choice. We are created spiritual complete and we remain like that, but our gift allows us to think and act differently. (Observe, but do not judge - 10th rule of the Aboriginal Wisdom)
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On 30 May 2008 Chicago Love gave props:
He may know Christ personally he just forgot his armor along the way. My shield and my protector is perhaps super natural and will be this way throughout my living days.
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On 15 July 2008 rori johnson said:
You show the truth. I can see why shooting the street and going to a set up shooting with victorian themes is dull for you. Has JPG ever asked you to get involved with them. You'd be a sensation. "The E ticket for jpg events" :)
Also by ! Glenn ! ! Capers !
