Tulip Frenzy

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE.

We love county fairs.  For some glimpses of a fair in the American West, go here.

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE.

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE.

Yesterday we went to a 4th of July parade in our neighborhood, where we saw a number of DC politicians, some crooked and some not, and various bands and marching squads, some native born, some not.  The Bolivians were the greatest.

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE.

Happy Birthday, USA.  MacArthur Blvd, D.C. 7/4/2012.

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE

In McPherson Square.  Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE.

On Friday, a number of Leica shooters participating in a Leica Akademie Street Photography workshop in D.C. found ourselves in front of the White House as a Muslim man demonstrably worshipped his god.  A Christian church group, kids and adults alike all dressed in orange, showed up as the man was going through what can only be thought of as a performance.  The kids looked on with a mixture of surprise, skepticism, and hostility.

Leica M9, 35mm Summilux FLE

Shortly thereafter, the man washed his feet and began to walk around as the kids — maybe 50 of them — crowded into the space.

And then, when he got back down on his hands and knees to worship toward Mecca , the adults with the group gathered the kids around the man in a large prayer circle and loudly began to pray to Christ.  Either it was an example of religious tolerance — representatives of two religions using the public space in front of the White House to worship — or it was a strange encounter, in which a Muslim was surrounded by Christians intent on drowning out his message.  What do you think it was?