I drove down to San Diego from Humboldt County for a medical appointment tomorrow. Today I was walking around Bonita Cove across the street from Mission Beach and Belmont Park observing all the families setting up for picnics, a multicultural blend. Then I saw a man walking toward me with a fishing road and bare chested, heavily tattooed. I was looking at one that was a cross on his midsection when my eyes moved up to his chest and saw the large swastika. He was grim, short hair and lean in a muscular way, probably in his forties or early fifties. Presenting himself in a very public in a place filled with Latino families and I even saw a pair of Muslim women with babies. I was struck dumb by this guy. Should I have confronted him? My maternal grandparents each lost cousins fighting the Nazis. My late father-in-law fought across Europe and my dad enlisted as an aviation cadet and later trained as a combat air crewman. I wonder if anyone else noticed or said anything.
Thank you for your comment and for sharing this. I don’t know about confronting people like this. He was probably out hoping to get into something and as hard as we try as politely as possible to suggest that what they are communicating is dangerous, they will blow it up. Seen too much of it. I do hope that others took note and maybe took pictures.
All the best, thank you again, and if your father is still with us thank him.
Dad passed away January 2020, 2 months shy of 96. I wrote a description of his military funeral. Maybe I will post it on my Substack. Thanks for your reply.
Extremely melancholy. With the death of Pope Francis this morning, I wonder if the conservatives will return to an iron fisted interpretation of Catholicism. He had been a breath of fresh air to me. But the staunch conservative, single issue Catholics, were unimpressed with his humility and HUMANITY! I left the religion long ago, but still pray and have faith. With the ascent of Trumpism, even the faith is waning.
Thank you for your observation. I worry about the hyper-political single issue Catholics. They ignore so much that is essential to living the fullness of the Catholic faith. I fully understand your sentiments and why you left. You are one of many.
I drove down to San Diego from Humboldt County for a medical appointment tomorrow. Today I was walking around Bonita Cove across the street from Mission Beach and Belmont Park observing all the families setting up for picnics, a multicultural blend. Then I saw a man walking toward me with a fishing road and bare chested, heavily tattooed. I was looking at one that was a cross on his midsection when my eyes moved up to his chest and saw the large swastika. He was grim, short hair and lean in a muscular way, probably in his forties or early fifties. Presenting himself in a very public in a place filled with Latino families and I even saw a pair of Muslim women with babies. I was struck dumb by this guy. Should I have confronted him? My maternal grandparents each lost cousins fighting the Nazis. My late father-in-law fought across Europe and my dad enlisted as an aviation cadet and later trained as a combat air crewman. I wonder if anyone else noticed or said anything.
Michael,
Thank you for your comment and for sharing this. I don’t know about confronting people like this. He was probably out hoping to get into something and as hard as we try as politely as possible to suggest that what they are communicating is dangerous, they will blow it up. Seen too much of it. I do hope that others took note and maybe took pictures.
All the best, thank you again, and if your father is still with us thank him.
Sincerely,
Steve
Dad passed away January 2020, 2 months shy of 96. I wrote a description of his military funeral. Maybe I will post it on my Substack. Thanks for your reply.
Extremely melancholy. With the death of Pope Francis this morning, I wonder if the conservatives will return to an iron fisted interpretation of Catholicism. He had been a breath of fresh air to me. But the staunch conservative, single issue Catholics, were unimpressed with his humility and HUMANITY! I left the religion long ago, but still pray and have faith. With the ascent of Trumpism, even the faith is waning.
Christiana,
Thank you for your observation. I worry about the hyper-political single issue Catholics. They ignore so much that is essential to living the fullness of the Catholic faith. I fully understand your sentiments and why you left. You are one of many.
All the best, and thank you again.
Steve