Buying a Christmas Tree

A few weeks ago, I went to get a Christmas tree with my wife and child. The sales guy asked me where I was from. I told him Japan. He then called me a “commie.”

A moment like this is a rare opportunity to learn what someone like him is thinking about me. I would have to travel very far to meet someone who is willing to be a racist to my face. Since this is New York, I don’t have to worry about my safety, so I encouraged him to talk more, although my wife was freezing and wanted to go home ASAP.

He went on to talk about how we “Chinese” people are taking all the good jobs away from Americans. Needless to say, he is a Trump supporter. He wants Trump to make America great again. When I tried to help him lift the tree, he told me not to because Asian people shouldn’t have to do a dirty job. He lives in the East Village and works as a cook when he is not selling trees.

Because he was so unapologetic about his politically incorrect views, we had to laugh. It would be interesting to have a drink and talk some more with him. I’m curious how an unapologetic Trump supporter lives in the East Village. What is his story? He might be a good material for a documentary film.