Daily photographs by HANS VON RITTERN, with humorous, artistic and social commentary on life in the big city.

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“Chicago”/Zimmerman-Omara song of the day: “WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN!”

CHICAGO FLORIDA WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN

“WE BOTH REACHED FOR THE GUN”

(Altered just slightly to fit the Trayvon Martin/Zimmerman case. Frightening how almost identical the two scenarios are. )

[REPORTERS]

Where’d you come from?

 [OMARA (as George)]

Virginia

[REPORTERS]

And your parents?

 [OMARA (as George)]

Middle class.

 [REPORTERS]

Where are they now?

 (OMARA (as George)]

Sanford, Florida.

 [MARK OMARA]

But he was granted one more start

[OMARA (as George)]

Attending catholic school!

 [REPORTERS]

When’d you get here?

[OMARA (as George)]

2003

[REPORTERS]

How old were you?

 [OMARA (as George)]

Don’t remember

[REPORTERS]

Then what happened?

 [OMARA  (as George)]

I joined the neighborhood watch,

Convinced I would be a cop one day

[PRESS (spoken)]

A catholic boy! A cop wannabe!

oh, it’s too terrible. You poor, poor dear.

[REPORTERS]

Who’s Trayvon Martin?

[OMARA (as George)]

An unknown  boy.

 [REPORTERS]

Why’d you shoot him?

[OMARA (as George)]

I was suspicious.

 [REPORTERS]

Was he  angry?

[OMARA (as George)]

Like a madman

Still I said, “Trayvon, move along.”

 [OMARA]

George knew that he was doin’ wrong.

 [REPORTERS]

Then describe it.

[OMARA  (as George)]

He came toward me.

 [REPORTERS]

With a pistol?

[OMARA (as George)]

From my waistband.

 [REPORTERS]

Did you fight him?

[OMARA (as George)]

Like a tiger.

 [MARK OMARA]

Trayvon had strength and George had none.

[OMARA (as George)]

And yet we both reached for the gun

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes we both

Oh yes we both

Oh yes, we both reached for

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

Oh yes, we both reached for the gun

For the gun.

 [OMARA AND REPORTERS]

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes they both

Oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both reached for

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun,

Oh yes, they both reached for the gun

For the gun.

[OMARA]

Understandable. understandable

Yes, it’s perfectly understandable

Defensible. Defensible

Not a bit reprehensible

It’s so defensible!

 [REPORTERS]

How’re you feeling?

 [OMARA (as George)]

Very frightened

[REPORTERS]

Are you sorry?

[GEORGE]

Are you kidding?

[REPORTERS]

What’s you’re statement?

[OMARA (as George)]

All I’d say is

Though my choo-choo jumped the track

I’d give my life to bring him back

 [REPORTERS]

And?

[OMARA (as George)]

Stay away from

 [REPORTERS]

What?

[OMARA  (as George)]

Guns and skittles

 [REPORTERS]

And?

[OMARA (as George)]

And the boys who

[REPORTERS]

What?

 [OMARA (as George)]

Wear a hoodie who run

[REPORTERS]

And what?

[OMARA (as George)]

That’s the thought that

[REPORTERS]

Yeah?…

[OMARA (as George)]

Came upon me

[REPORTERS]

When?

 [OMARA (as George)]

When we both reached for the gun!

[FLORIDA PRESS]

Understandable, understandable

[OMARA AND FLORIDA PRESS]

Yes, it’s perfectly understandable

Comprehensible, comprehensible

Not a bit reprehensible

It’s soooo defensible!

[OMARA (spoken)]

Let me

Hear it!

[REPORTERS]

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both reached for

The gun, the gun, the gun,

The gun

Oh yes, they both reached

For the gun

 [OMARA (spoken)]

A little louder!

[REPORTERS]

For the Gun.

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both reached

For the gun, the gun,

[OMARA (spoken)]

Now you got it!

[REPORTERS]

The gun, the gun

Oh yes. They both reached

For the gun

For the gun.

[OMARA AND REPORTERS]

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both reached for

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

Oh yes, they both reached for the gun.

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, they both

Oh yes, they both

Oh yes, reached for

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

[OMARA]

Both reached for the…gun

[REPORTERS]

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

The gun, the gun, the gun, the gun

Both reached for the gun.

WATCH THIS VIDEO, THE CASES ARE IDENTICAL !

Posted by  |  July 17, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo of the day: LOVE HAS NO COLOR (a poem)

LOVE HAS NO COLOR frame

WHAT’S THE COLOR OF LOVE?
by KoolC
What’s the color of love, if you should ask?
Is it blue? Oh I thought you knew, is it black?
Red, brown, round or is it white, or quite right,
What’s the color of love?
Love has no color
Just ask the true lovers,
Love is timeless, love is kindness, endless, courteous,
a little bit of teasing and a lot of pleasing,
Love is like the rainbow,
Love is like a rose – with nourishment it will grow.
Love has no color no matter where you go,
Love is respect and affection, love is honor and protection,
Love is a symphony, a song with the most beautiful melody,
Love is freedom, like the river to the sea.
Love would always say come to me, like a harp in harmony,
Love is peace and unity, its that sparkle in your eyes,
its the glory of paradise,
Love is a tender moment of pleasure, it can’t be measured.
Love is an unquenchable thirst, a desire of passion, of fire
Love can break the spell of any curse, always put love first,
I couldn’t live in a world without love.
Love has no color, love is clear as crystal, naked as a new born,
Love is beyond the galaxy, its infinity,
Love can make a blind man see, love is a phenomena,
Love has no color
Love is the greatest gift of all,
Love is what we are and who we are
and what we can be,
but love has no color
because I am a fool for love.
Love has no color.

Posted by  |  July 16, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN’S “NOT GUILTY” VERDICT WAS BULLIED BY JUROR #B37 !

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN’S “NOT GUILTY” VERDICT WAS BULLIED BY JUROR #B37 !

Go to CNN’S Anderson Cooper interview with her Monday 7-15-13 evening.

In only 1-½ days juror B37 has secured herself a book deal, claiming not because she “wants to profit from this”.  . . and I am the pope! Her husband is a lawyer – HOW did she get  on the jury?? She is also a right wing gun advocate and a proponent of the hideous Florida “stand your ground law.” One of the blind who firmly believes “race had nothing to do with it.” She claims she knows what happened that night. Listen to her words very, very carefully. The hesitations and voice say a lot more than what just her words say.

She is an older white woman, (very privileged white, doesn‘t need to work) to the point that she refers to blacks as “they” and “them” and felt sorry for the defense witness “poor Rachel Jeantel”. There was a huge racial and age gap: “She had just used ‘phrases’ I had never heard before.”

She told Anderson Cooper the jury entered the deliberation room 2 for manslaughter, 1 for second degree murder  2 likely guilty – but she was “convinced“ from the very beginning that “George”  was innocent. “No doubt about it.” (It is also disturbingly cozy that she does not refer to the defendent as ‘the defendent’, ‘George Zimmerman’ or ‘Mr. Zimmerman’ – but as “George”). “We just couldn’t reach a verdict 3 to 3. So I worked so hard to go over the evidence again and again.” “Again and again“ translates as “bullied” for her right wing gun toting agenda! Remember she was the only one that was convinced from the start that ‘George’ was innocent. She was the alpha female in the group that swayed the jury to go her way, so she could write the book on how she fought to carry them to the light of the truth! BINGO = book deal 1-½ days later!

Of course towards the end of the interview, as all right wingers do, she threw in some required quivers in her voice and supposed tears. “I feel sorry for both of them.” BOTH. I say ‘supposed tears’ because her face was blacked out. When Anderson asked her why she didn‘t want to show her face, she said because wanted to be “cautious.” We know this about her: the woman has lived in the Sanford, Fla., area for 18 years and has two daughters – a 24-year-old pet groomer and a 27-year-old college student. During jury selection, she said she had been called for jury duty four times previously but never selected to sit on a case.

Never selected for a case – yet this one she seemingly was “perfect” for and swayed the whole case. If you are angry, if you feel this is as unjust and embarrassing as I do – direct your anger at her – JUROR #B37 !

PS – The case is also a sad confluence of bad things. Teenager Rachel Jeantel was interviewed on CNN’S Piers Morgan afterwards. To everyone’s surprise she IS a well spoken, intelligent (street smart) religious girl, respectful of her elders. Why sadly did Rachel not pull herself together and show herself as she was on Piers Morgan Monday night? Because she said she was angry, didn’t want to be incourt, couldn’t deal with Trayvon Martin’s death and is very afraid of death. How very, very sad that this young innocent boy lost his life due to such a “Chicago” (movie) like trial. The film, by the way, is based on a true 1924 story of Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan. In all this time, almost ninety years later, it still rings true in America, get a more clever lawyer and you CAN get away with murder.

Juror #B37’s book, ‘George Zimmerman Is Innocent’ written with the assistance of her lawyer husband,

will be out later this year.

Posted by  |  July 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mondays on Memory Lane: PLEASE HELP GIVE CAROL CHANNING A 2013 KENNEDY CENTER AWARD

CAROL CHANNING LEGEND

Mondays on Memory Lane: PLEASE HELP GIVE CAROL CHANNING A 2013 KENNEDY CENTER AWARD – If you are of a certain age, or you know your entertainment history, there are certain voices that on first note you recognize instantly. The Brooklyn of Jimmy Durante, the heart of  Louis Armstrong, the belt of Ethel Merman, the breathiness Marilyn Monroe, the growl of Eartha Kitt, the shaky quality of Katherine Hepburn, the accent of Marlene Dietrich, the staccato speech pattern Bette Davis and above all the big hearted gravely “hello” of Carol Channing!
Carol is larger than life, she is a living caricature of herself, a favorite of the best caricature artist of all time Al Hirschfeld.  She is also living Broadway history having created two of the most iconic characters in theater history, Lorelei Lee of ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and Dolly Levi of ‘Hello Dolly’. No matter who you remember playing these characters on screen, Marilyn Monroe or Streisand – Carol originated them! But above all, there is no other creation like Carol herself. You fall in love with her the moment you set eyes on her.
HIRSCHFELD DOLLYhirschfeld_carol_channing LORELEI LEE
At age 92, nothing has changed, her saucer eyes, her broad grin, that bowl cut hair style, the platinum blonde hair, that child-like enthusiasm with a heart of gold and above all, above all – that voice!  I have had the thrill of seeing her on stage many times in my lifetime: 3 times as Dolly in 1970, 1978 and 1995. Once as Lorelei Lee the ultimate diamond loving gold digger the 1974’s ‘Lorelei’, the musical stage version of ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. In film she will be forever remembered as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Julie Andrews’ ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ as Carol sang in a vocal range from a high ‘C’ to the lowest note possible in ‘I’m Just A Jazz Baby’ and ‘Raspberries!’
On April 30, 2011, my good friend Jeffrey Shonert and I had the thrilling absolute surreal honor of sitting in front of Carol Channing and her late husband  Harry Kullijian at the premier of her life story documentary “Larger Than Life” at the Tribeca Film Festival here in New York. This was thanks to the larger than life heart and love of my dear friend, entertainer and author Richard Skipper. As the film ran I could hear Carol commenting on the film to her husband – two Carol voices at once – surreal!! Richard, I am forever indebted to you!
TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2011
Once a year The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C hands out lifetime achievement awards to the greats of entertainment. Since their inception in 1978, in all this time, Carol Channing has never been honored. How they have overlooked and bypassed this legend is a travesty and embarrassment. What to me makes it worse, last year seemingly having run out of names to give it to, they gave it to mad magazine poster child David Letterman. How throwing watermelons off a roof while stupidly grinning into the camera merits a lifetime achievement award over the life’s work of  Carol Channing is beyond me! She has entertained us since the 1940’s, has worked tirelessly for Arts In Education. She IS theater!
228549_167645113293705_4137456_nRICHARD SKIPPER right
My dear friend Richard Skipper, personal friend of Carol Channing, is championing the cause to finally having Carol be given her due. PLEASE, if you love Carol, are a friend of mine or just a show biz lover, please sign the enclosed petition to correct this unjust oversight and GIVE CAROL CHANNING THE 2013 KENNEDY CENTER HONOR ! Please sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-kennedy-center-honors-give-carol-channing-a-2013-kennedy-center-honor
Thank you !
Hans Von Rittern
The trailer for ‘Larger Than Life’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_aQMAP5xM
Two of the biggest hearts in show business, both Hello Dolly’s themselves – Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey = priceless! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcazoYIRIoo

Posted by  |  July 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo of the day: GEORGE ZIMMERMAN “FUCKING PUNKS…THEY ALWAYS GET AWAY!”

NOT GUILTY collage

“Fucking punks!, these assholes, they always get away.”
Cop wanna-be Zimmerman’s said to a police dispatcher when he spotted doomed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
I am stunned, horrified but sadly not to too surprised at the ‘not guilty’ verdict of racist George Zimmerman. Myself being a white American with many international friends, I am embarrassed to be an American right now. Europe is looking at us in puzzlement at our gun obsessed racist society and politics. This is a throw back to the old south justice. How is it that everyone could see the facts, every logical, rational human being could see Zimmerman had hateful intent to not let the nigger get away – all except for six blind women on that jury?? Obviously in racist Florida, it’s open season on young black boys wearing a hoodie, walking home with a package of Skittles.
Open season on hoodies

Open season on hoodies

Zimmerman’s brother Robert Jr. and blue-eyed wife Shellie are just the same, white-wannabe racists. Listen to his brother’s interviews on CNN’S Pierce Morgan show. The brother has an air of entitlement and arrogance, seemingly insulted the murder has even come to trial.  Watch and look at his bleach-blonde wife’s face at trial. It is a face of haughty better-than-you supreme attitude. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Lest they forget, 50% of their DNA is a “minority” Latino DNA, but they feel themselves to be Aryan supremacists.
 ZIMMERMAN collage
I am too drained from the exhaustive coverage of this disgusting outcome to go over every detail of the trial, you know them all – but one trial testimony sticks out and should stick in your mind. The local news interview of a woman who lives in the neighborhood  was used in evidence against Trayvon:“Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. I’m black, OK?” the woman said, declining to be identified because she anticipated backlash due to her race. She leaned in to look a reporter directly in the eyes. “There were black boys robbing houses in this neighborhood,” she said. “That’s why George was suspicious of Trayvon Martin.” 
So by default, Trayvon is black = Trayvon is an armed criminal. So it was heavily implied at trail. I suggest the defense stupidly did not make this following connection: Trayvon Martin is black = therefore he could be a great golf player like Tiger Woods, General Colin L. Powell  secretary of state, Tyler Perry Hollywood actor and billionaire, Harry Belafonte singer or – president of the United States!

The racist interview of Robert Zimmerman – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuzRK-mclzg

Posted by  |  July 14, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo of the day: SEARCHING FOR MODERN DAY MARILYN MONROE

POST MODERN MARILYN

Photo of the day: MODERN DAY MARILYN – The Marilyn-esque look will last forever. I was strolling through the east village and came across MM staring down at me through the window of the wonderful 125 Second Avenue vintage shop “ENZ’S”. This mannequin has so many MM references: the cherries from her ‘The Misfits’ dress, the halter top from the famous subway skirt blowing scene in ‘The 7 Year Itch’, the pouting lips, the droopy eyes and lashes, the famous flip hairdo with an updated color – it’s Marilyn!
The east village is one of the last vestiges of what the entire “village” used to be like. Odd, unusual shops filled with quirky items, retro  and hand made looks and even quirkier shop owners. Sadly in the Bloomberg/Quinn era the flavor of our ‘originality’ is quickly disappearing in favor of high rent chain stores and the ever cancerous growth of the New York University (NYU) campus. I truly hope in 2025 I will still be able too wander along some of our streets and find a Marilyn pouting at me through the window of a funky shop.
Find and shop ENZ’S:   http://www.enzsnyc.com/about/  

Address: 125 2nd Ave New York, NY 10003 Neighborhood: East Village (212) 228-1943

(917) 841-5989

http://www.enzsnyc.com
Nearest Transit: Astor Place (6) 8th St-Broadway (R, W) 3rd Ave-14th St (L)
Hours: Mon-Sat 12 pm – 8 pm

Sun 1 pm – 7pm

Posted by  |  July 13, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo of the day: MMMM = MACY’S, MT. RUSHMORE AND MARILYN MONROE !

MARILYN MONROE MACY'S

Photo of the day: MMMM = MACY*S, MT. RUSHMORE AND MARILYN MONROE ! –  To celebrate the summer of 2013, Macy*s launched the ‘American Icons’ campaign celebrating everything American and our American fashion designers. The one human being chosen to represent the USA is not Elvis or any of our current celebrities, but none other than the eternal blonde Marilyn Monroe! Marilyn is now a clothing brand, a merlot wine brand and a part of so many other things. She is wealthier in death than she ever was in life. Fifty one years after her death in 1962, her image, innocent sex appeal and allure continue to captivate our imaginations. Come to Herald Square, turn the corner and walk down 34th Street, and there you will see Macy*s ‘American Icon’ huge banner. What images did they choose?: the American flag, the Coney Island Ferris Wonder Wheel,  the Empire State Building, Levis, Mt. Rushmore and Marilyn Monroe!
P.S. Out of all these ‘American’ fashion designers – whose clothes are really made in America??

Posted by  |  July 12, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo of the day: A DAY AT THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Eyes of wonderment - KAVISH SINGH

Eyes of wonderment – KAVISH SINGH

Photo of the day: A DAY AT THE MUSEUM or THE WONDER OF SCIENCE – The Natural History Museum on Central Park West in New York City is a guaranteed place of wonder for any children of any age. Their eyes widen with excitement as they enter the doors, oooohs and ahhhhs followed by “I want to see the dinosaurs! No, I want to see the meteors”! Just hand them a map of the museum with their chaperone – and set them loose!
If you have the time and extra expense, take them to the Hayden Planetarium’s theater in the round for the “Journey to the Stars”, a 1/2 hour show narrated by actress Whoopi Goldberg (on tape, not live). “Featuring extraordinary images from telescopes on the ground and in space and stunning, never-before-seen visualizations of physics-based simulations, the dazzling Journey to the Stars launches visitors through space and time to experience the life and death of the stars in our night sky, including our own nurturing Sun. Tour familiar stellar formations, explore new celestial mysteries, and discover the fascinating, unfolding story that connects us all to the stars.” The film is projected on the domed ceiling of the planetarium convincing some of my little guests that the ceiling was actually turning.
Back inside the museum you have five floors of difficult choices to make: Dinosaurs – over 2 billion bones – the largest bone collection in the world, stuffed animals from all over the world, butterflies, space exhibits, rocks and minerals, ocean life, more dinosaurs and endless fascinating gift shops.
Rhinoceros family in the graslands of Africa exhibit

Rhinoceros family in the graslands of Africa exhibit

Spooky skeletons

Spooky skeletons

I took my 35 students from India there Monday and they were like kids in a candy shop. Immediately the groups split up into their hierarchies. Cool girls together, science geeks together, boys who wanted to see how many fun things they could buy, the bewildered, etc, and one loner polite boy named  Kavish Singh. On our trip he expressed no interest in buying anything for himself or his loved ones back home. “It is not necessary” Kavish said wisely for his eight years. “I don’t want anything, my money is just for emergency purposes.” (‘Oh boy I thought, if that woulda been me…’) I tried in vain to get him to buy a souvenir to no avail, he stuck to his earnest guns.
Kavish had kept to himself the whole trip and was always very quiet. I did discover he believed King Kong was real and that he was a very introspective, shy boy. So when we got to the museum, to my great surprise, he came up to me to hold my hand and wanted to come with me and our chaperone Ankur to tour the museum alone. “Well, you have us all to yourselves, what do you want to see? Meteors?” “No.”, Butterflies”, “No”. “Dinosaurs…” Kavish said quietly with a nod.
A sense of wonderment

A sense of wonderment

Ok, so up to the top fifth floor we went. As we reached the top, he transformed, his shell was dropped and he wandered ahead, his heavy back pack on his shoulders, to marvel at what he had only seen in books and movies. “Oooooh sir, are they real?” “Yes they all are! You are the boss here, you take us where you want to go!” The rest was magic. The little wheels in Kavish’s mind were spinning a mile a minute. He wasn’t the serious little man he had been, but was a little google-eyed boy. His face broke out into beams of smiles he seemed to feel safe to reveal.  It was a joy for us to lead him through the giant Dino-turtles, winged serpent like creatures hanging from the ceiling, gigantic bones and then on to the stuffed animals in their natural habitats, including soils, and vegetation. “Do they ever come alive” Kavish asked sheepishly. He knew his belief in King Kong had already been thwarted, “No,” I explained, “that was only in the movie ‘A Night At The Museum'”. He wondered and thought, reflected on the animals some more, “but perhaps if we turned out the lights and left, then we could look in the windows and see what happens?” Since our bus was waiting to take us back to the airport, I advised we will have to wait for another late night to see what really does happen in ‘a night at the museum’. . .

Posted by  |  July 11, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Photo of the day: MEET 35 OF MY NEW FRIENDS FROM INDIA

INDIA GROUP PHOTO 6-8-13

Photo of the day: MEET 35 OF MY NEW FRIENDS FROM INDIA – Through my friendship with Ajay and Ankur Bansal of the India Unexplored travel agency in India, I get the sheer joy of showing stary-eyed students the city of their dreams. Since they come from all parts of India, the reaction to New York ranges widely from bewilderment, confusion, to the thrill of recognizing places from their movies and music videos.
The children in this group ranged from age 8 to 15, so therefore their reactions varied greatly. The group always is divided into the expected subsections. The cool pretty girls, the science geeks, the way too cool coming-of age guys dressed as ‘NYC’ as possible, the introverted, the shy and the terribly obdeient to parents and tradition. It amuses me greatly to watch this predictable age old tradition and dividing up carry on. Can you pick out who is who in this group photo?
On Sunday, July 7th we first visited the Statue of Liberty. The high rate of security overwhelmed them a bit at first. To watch their eyes grow wider and wider as the boat drew closer was endearing. Some children just grow very quiet and look studiously up at her. Here she was! The statue they had seen in every movie, “Did you see ‘I Am Legend’?! That movie was cool!” I always point out to them that the statue is not standing still as it first appears, that she is breaking the chains of oppression at her feet and is moving forward towards freedom, “Oooooh!” I always ask – do you know what the 7 points in her crown represent? “The 7 continents” is the most frequent answer as opposed to the correct answer, the 7 seas. I then ask them to take 2 American pennies out of their wallet to show them just how thin her copper skin is, there is always amazement at that.  Despite the oppressive heat wave we took the time to make sure everyone got that one special photo with Miss Liberty – you know, you get on your knees and photograph upwards so that friends and Miss Liberty are all in one shot.  Then it’s the race for the gift shop. “I wanted more Liberty Statues” one adorable girl exclaimed. I assured her, once we got to Timers Square, there would be dozens including many live ones for her to choose from!
Next it was on to the 9/11 memorial. More stringent security. Since half the group was of such a young age, I had to explain the whole tragedy to them and the importance of the site. Many had thought the waterfalls would be above ground “you know, like Niagara Falls.” I told them to look up and imagine 110 floors of people working at their desks possibly about to loose their lives. Silence and bewilderment came over their faces. ‘But why?’ their faces seemed to say. How do you explain terrorism to an 8 year old? I tried in the gentlest manner possible, trying to explain “hate”. Many also sought to touch the ‘survivor pear tree’ and felt it was a true miracle.
Since they wanted an American lunch, where else but – McDonalds on Broadway with the live piano player, this was very exciting to them. They were like kids in a candy store. Very happy and very placated. We then walked around the City Hall area and waited for our bus to take us to the Empire State Building. What was incredible to them was that it was built in just 13 months. “That can’t be sir? It is not possible to construct such a thing  in so short a time.”
Out of respect, I am called “sir” – it is endearing, an old age culture of respect and a bit surreal. Some dared to call me “Sir Hans” but that was tried by only 1 or 2 of the older boys. Imagine this soft little voice calling you “sir”, it warms you heart to the fullest.DSC_5392FLAG
 DSC_5391
The Empire State Building was the third time they were subjected to the heavy ‘welcome to New York security’, this is how our lives have changed. Security guards took away a golf ball from a little boy. I was furious and in disbelief. I had an umbrella which I could have dropped down as a missile, but this little boy’s NYC golf ball he had bought for his dad was confiscated?!? (I bought him another one at twice the price, but I was NOT going have this be his memory of the Empire State Building!) Once we got to the top, having come from the other side of the globe, I was asked if that land mass to the west was Canada – I had to explain, no…”it’s Jersey”.
Our final stop was the much requested Times Square. The ooohs and ahhhs were abundant. Each older student was required to hold the hand of a younger student. I lead the group holding up an American flag they could follow, we were quite a parade. “Sir! This is where we should have spent the whole day!” Most of them just wanted to shop, try on Nike sneakers and buy as many I ♥ NY t-shirts as possible, and oh yes, and buy many little mini Liberty statues.
Here is where our culture differs greatly from India’s. We made our meeting point by the red glass TKTS stairs. As we waited I looked in their bags and would ask them “so – what did you buy?” Many of them responded that they had not bought nothing for themselves, but something for their sister, father, brother or mother. It was truly humbling. One little girl was so proud that she had bought a red, white and blue teddy bear with big eyes for her little sister, “I know she will like this very, very much.” I couldn’t have loved them more in that moment. Now it was time to head back to their hotel in Long Island City and continue their NYC adventure Monday . . .
FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Is King Kong really real? Where does he live now?” asked 8 year old Kavish Singh with thoughtful wide eyes and wonderment. I had to bite my tongue from laughing and remember I believed in Santa Claus till 5th grade, so it was with a smile I tried to explain that it had been an animated doll – he seemed disappointed.

Posted by  |  July 9, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo of the day: MONDAY !

MONDAY !

MONDAY !

Posted by  |  July 7, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment