A little slice of America (a distraction and good story while we wait )

[The Straight Story]

While we wait on rove to go bye bye I thought it might be nice to take a look at a real american instead of all the losers in the * admin

He cares for leather, people
BY RYAN SCHUSTER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: [e-mail] | Sunday, May 14 2006 10:45 PM

Last Updated: Sunday, May 14 2006 10:49 PM



Photo by Henry A. Barrios

Raven "Hawk" Hawkins stands next to his shop on Eye Street in downtown Bakersfield. He is semi-retired and has been in the leather cleaning business about a year and a half.
Graphics:

Hawkins, who turns 73 next week, started shining shoes as a 10-year-old in 1943.

"I started out getting a dime a shine," he said. "Now it's $7."

Hawkins, who describes himself as "semi-retired," opened a leather cleaning and shoe shining business in downtown Bakersfield about a year and a half ago.

He handles all leather products and occasionally shines shoes at his small white building on Eye Street midway between 19th and 20th streets, but specializes in leather coats and bags.

http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/51528.html

He fought in Korea, played football, ran away at 14 and said he ain't rich and never wanted to be. When I compare folks like this to the assholes in charge I just shake my head and wonder how they got there.

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[godhatesrepublicans]

1. If Bill Clinton and GWBush met this guy on the street at his business.

Clinton would have really listened to this guy, asked his opinion on a few things, gotten a shoe shine if he needed it or not, left a 20 buck tip and wished the guy well and would have meant it.

Bush would just nod, say "That's great, good for you," and walked on to the next millionaire on his schedule.

Just a thought.