Judith Smith, a blog reader, sent me this photo this morning taken by Louis Faurer in the ’30s or ’40s after reading about George’s work on my blog.

This is a sacred act of black and white photography, it captured the old Pennsylvania Station some years before it was so outrageously destroyed in the 1960s to make room for the hideous Madison Square Garden.

Jackie Onassis Kennedy led the fight to save it, but even she was not a match for political and corporate greed and ignorance. America routinely allows spiritual crimes like this, they are mistakes that never be undone and are instantly regretted.

A new Pennsylvania station, loosely modeled over the old one was recently opened, but the afternoon light no longer shines into the station, the sun is obscured by scores of towering buildings that blood out all-natural light.

The columns and friezes of the station were all dumped into the polluted New Jersey marshlands, where they still lie. I think God himself would cry over this desecration of human achievement.

I hope to do justice to history with my new Leica, I think the camera has a gift for capturing what could be lost. I am humbled by a photo like this and doubt I could ever do it, but it inspires me to think and try about what is precious.

Images like this helped us to love our country and take pride in a society that could build something as grand as this. Shame on us for destroying it for a sports venue and more money for millionaires and billionaires.