Lack of Diversity on the Camino

[Jeffrey Crawley]

Game, set and match to Mr English?

The trouble with satire is that, when it fails it makes the 'satirist' look
an idiot and should certainly make them think twice about trying to publish
a book although, hell, even Mein Kampf found an audience.

I always thought the best part about WALKING the Camino (as opposed to
TALKING about it - didn't mean to shout but can't italicise on my system) is
the diversity of pilgrims you meet from Australia to Zimbabwe and of every
hue under the rainbow: caucasian (what an odd name for an off-white skin
type), Japanese, Chinese, African and even Arab (a Moroccan Muslim walked it
recently I believe). I'm sure the published statistics are there for
interest and not out of a sense of politcal correctness.

As far as skin colour is concerned I try to take the view of my 14 year old
daughter: she was describing one of her school friends as 'tall, slim, curly
haired with the most amazing big eyes'. I still couldn't figure out who she
was talking about when the girl came into view. 'There she is!' I asked why
she didn't say the girl was of African appearance and will never forget her
reply: 'but Dad, she's not African, she's English!' . . . and so she is.

Actually I'm (truly) colour blind and have often wondered why we never seen
any green skinned people at the Irache fountain - are Martians being
discriminated against on the Camino?

I guess what I mean to say is a blister on black skin is just as painful as
on white and if I was going to look out for racial/social/national types it
would only be to avoid right wing bigots - and I'm honestly not pointing the
finger at anybody here.

I hope Doug enjoys his Camino and learns a lot from it too.

Jeffrey
(Colour blind - but only green/brown - I see people in their true colours)

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe English [mailto:santiagowalkingaHOTMAIL.COM]
Sent: 29 April 2003 10:28
To: GOCAMINO
Subject: RE: Lack of Diversity on the Camino


On Mon, 28 Apr 2003 10:27:01 -0500, Douglass Norvell <norvellaNAUVOO.NET>
wrote:

>Rebekah,
>
>You are a journalist, I am a writer.
>
>I wrote the little satire, after noticing that the camino does have a
specialized appeal.
>
>I may do a humorous satirical book about the kinds of people one
encounters on the camino after making my own pilgrimage in September.
>
>I have some other ideas that may interest you.
>
>doug norvell

Good morning Doug,
I am at a complete loss here.
To which 'little satire' do you refer?
Is it the 'whites only' fountain or the 'bomber Basques'?