The Syracuse Cultural Workers created a poster which I’m sure many readers have seen before, but which I feel compelled to discuss regardless. The items in bold are on their list of ways to build community, and my comments are in a regular font.
Think of no one as “them”: Creating categories based on difference allows individuals to more easily justify the unjustifiable, to excuse the inexcusable. The result? When some kind of crime or wrongdoing occurs in an certain area or to a person who belongs to a different group (race, class, sexuality, ability, gender, religion, political affiliation, you name it…), it is not thought of as something that might concern all in society. Thus, it’s remains to be addressed in a productive way. The “answer” goes something like this: “avoid Hartford,” “bulldoze it and start over,” “more prisons,” “send criminals/undesirables to Springfield.” Those sentiments are not productive by any stretch of the imagination.
Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety: In my walks to work, I have felt discomfort. In my old neighborhood, I would pass a homeless shelter and park where people who were basically up to no good, or had no other place to go, would congregate. Even with the verbal street harassment which made the trip sometimes irritating, I never felt unsafe.
I have felt unsafe while riding my bike, but that had nothing to do with a fear of assault or robbery, and everything to do with motorists who either are ignorant of or in defiance of traffic rules. The recent hit-and-run occurred in my old neighborhood, and seems to fit in more closely with the kind of crime and violence that is statistically likely–anything involving automobiles. In this case, a pedestrian was hit, but every day it seems that car accidents occur, and not all drivers take responsibility by stopping to see if anyone was hurt. If anything, I’m surprised this does not happen more often. In that area (and others), there are frequently cars chasing each other. But even without that kind of aggression, I witness motorists all over making poor driving choices. At least once a week, I have a close call, whether I’m walking all the way to work, or simply going the two blocks from the parking lot to the building. I recently saw (and not for the first time) someone stop at a red light, and then go, as if he was at a stop sign. I’ve been almost swiped by someone who decided to pull into an intersection and do a u-turn–while all the lights were red and the pedestrian light was on, and there was a crowd of people crossing the street. I don’t even want to talk about all the assholes who turn right on red without stopping and checking that no one is crossing the street.
A high profile person was mugged the other day on the same route that I walk to get downtown. This kind of violence is possible and horrible, but realistically, it’s not an epidemic. Today, I read that the Courant slammed Perez for pointing this same thing out. Readers know that I am no fan of the mayor, but I think this is one of the times when he is right on the mark. Humans are complex enough to express sympathy while also remaining in touch with reality. This is how I feel. It’s disgusting that anyone would assault another person, unprovoked, regardless of age or social standing; however, this vicious broad daylight kind of violence (in an otherwise safe area) toward a person not involved with his attackers is thankfully rare.
I had walked this route twice before learning about the mugging. Is it terribly unsafe? I don’t think so. How many times had he ventured in that area and been safe? How many places have I gone and been safe in? That stretch of road has made me feel a little uncomfortable because there is not much there but parking lots, but I can’t foresee changing my route either. I have been in the most danger around acquaintances and when there have been vehicles involved. Given those statistics, I should stop interacting with others and move to a place where there are no cars…but I won’t do that either.
One of the smartest things said about the mugging was by a student quoted in Simpson’s column:
“Hartford is like any other place in the whole world,” student Steven Tobias said matter of factly.
As a female, I get a lot of unnecessary concern from people. By the virtue of being alive, we are all vulnerable. But we can also be amazingly strong. I didn’t come of age in riot grrrl and punk rock only to cower as an adult in broad daylight. I walk alone for the same reason why many people do not car pool–it’s too inconvenient to find a friend/acquaintance who has the same schedule. Upon finding out that I live alone, a colleague opened her eyes wide and reminded me to lock my door. Another asked in a worried tone if I would be getting a roommate. I kind of wonder what world other people live in that makes them so scared about an adult female taking care of her own self.
It sounds like I have a false sense of safety, like I don’t believe shit can happen to me. I know that it can, but I know what the odds are, and knowing that, I can’t waste energy in a panic. And anyway, when I had a roommate a few years ago, we never locked the doors.
Talk to strangers: It seems counterintuitive to those of us born and bred in New England, but I think there is value in making even a small connection with those we encounter. This relates to the idea of not thinking of anyone as a “them.” It’s too alienating to go through the day avoiding eye contact, grasping at keys/wallet/purse, and imagining the worse possible scenario when encountering strangers. Not only is it alienating; it’s also exhausting! This might mean a few nice words to someone who is not dressed remotely like yourself, to the guy pushing the cart with cans, to the teenagers who are clearly cutting school. As we know through witnessing global politics, it’s easier for a nation to wage war against a country with whom we do not connect on any real social or cultural level. There’s a reason the United States is not always fighting England or France. Think about how this plays out on a local level.
What was remarked on in media coverage about the hit-and-run on Park Street was how it took so long for someone to check on the victim. That’s alarming, emotionally, yet not surprising when we look at our culture. In this part of the world, we’re ingrained with the belief that we should mind our own business, not meddle. I don’t think that this mindset intends to ignore those in trouble, but I can understand how the leap by happen. Without giving too many private details, I will say that years ago, there was a situation that I was involved in where others could have and should have intervened, but didn’t. It happened in a supermarket, and was something that the other person involved could have been arrested for. This was in East Hartford and there were witnesses, but they chose to not get involved. To me, bystanders who opt to not get involved are just as culpable as the person who committed the violence.