CV & Dignity by Peter Turnley

A New York Lock-down Visual Diary-Album 17
April 10, 2020.
(please share)

As I exited Zabar’s yesterday afternoon. the store that has essentially kept me alive with food these past three weeks, I saw this gentleman standing in line waiting to enter the store. I had my camera on my shoulder as I always do, and upon seeing this man-me wearing a mask-I shouted, “you are so handsome, do you mind if I make a photograph of you”. Without speaking, he nodded his head in approbation and I made this photograph. I then asked him his name, and he made a motion again without speaking that it was not necessary to know his name. He is right. It isn’t necessary to know his name. I have thought a lot over night about this man and this moment. It is true he is not wearing a mask, and please, do not make any comments to that effect-any comment won’t change the fact that yes-he is not wearing a mask. But maybe he was doing something, many things, more than that in this case. This man, who clearly has lived a few years of this past century and certainly has seen a lot in his own life-with his choice of clothes, his hat, his gloves, his posture, his cane, his way of being-maybe he has chosen on this Passover and Easter weekend, to stand up, and with the elegance and grace which is clearly part of who he is-he has chosen to make a defiant statement at this moment and say clearly and loudly, “F…. You” to coronavirus. “You can try-but you will not take away my dignity, my pride, my courage, my hope, and my life-so just go away, and don’t even try to “F” with me “.

And maybe that was his way of saying this for all of us. There are somethings one will never be able to purchase on the shelf of a store-pride, dignity, courage, hope, determination, resilience, humility, decency, and love. And, like so many moments in my life when I have encountered people that have taught me lessons of life I couldn’t have learned in any other way than from observing them-I thank this man for standing up for all of us. God bless him, and God bless us all.
With love, Peter

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Author: GreatCosmicMothersUnited

I have joined with many parents affected with the surreal , yet accepted issue of child abuse via Pathogenic Parenting / Domestic abuse. As a survivor of Domestic Abuse, denial abounded that 3 sons were not affected. In my desire to be family to those who have found me lacking . As a survivor of psychiatric abuse, therapist who abused also and toxic prescribed medications took me to hell on earth with few moments of heaven. I will share my life, my experiences and my studies and research.. I will talk to small circles and I will council ; as targeted parents , grandparents , aunts , uncles etc. , are denied contact with a child for reasons that serve the abuser ...further abusing the child. I grasp the trauma and I have looked at the lost connection to a higher power.. I grasp when one is accustomed to privilege, equality can feel like discrimination.. Shame and affluence silences a lot of facts , truths that have been labeled "negative". It is about liberation of the soul from projections of a alienator , and abuser ..

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