It’s been said these are interesting times we live in. And no doubt this is an interesting place I live in. But those words don’t seem to do justice to what I observed on my way home.
\nFirst: in a busy train station, a bullet-proof vested uniformed officer stands at guard with an assault rifle in hand.
\nSecond: one of the neighborhood homeless, who hangs out in front of the deli down the block, belts out “jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way… the batmobile, lost its wheel…”, all the while laughing and greeting me as he usually does (and asking for spare change).<\/p>\n
The officer of the law, standing there to protect us, I assume. To make sure we get home safely, to ultimately make us comfortable. Seeing someone with such a serious weapon in such a public place – and this is not the first time I’ve seen as much – scares me. Is this necessary? Is this the world I live in?<\/p>\n
The homeless man, in most places considered a threat… bringing a chuckle and a smile on my way home.<\/p>\n
What should inspire confidence, scares me. What should threaten me, brightens my day.<\/p>\n
Perhaps my stereotypes need reconsideration. How did we get here?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It’s been said these are interesting times we live in. And no doubt this is an interesting place I live in. But those words don’t seem to do justice to what I observed on my way home.
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