I like John Quinones. I think he does some very interesting human-interest pieces. Not too long ago I saw a promo for a new special titled “What Would You Do?” Okay, I never actually got around to watching it, but I think I’ll be hunting it down after today. The idea is that they would recreate uncomfortable situations, like a couple yelling in the park and then the man grabs the woman by the wrist to take her away, and see how spectators respond. He usually asks those people to walk him through their through processes.
I was inspired by that promo. Yup, 15 seconds seemed to change how I look at people in Boston. I usually walk right by the homeless man because right now I feel as poor as him. If I hear people yelling, I usually try to get out of there as soon as possible.
Today I was downtown and near a T station. It’s a nice part of downtown, in the banking/ financial district, and it’s not too far from some tourist/historical spots. This is important to know because it creates the “feeling in the air.” This isn’t a seedy part of town where it’s safer to call 911 and keep walking. Nope – I was there with at least 50 of my fellow Bostonians.
As I was walking by, I heard a man swearing at the top of his lungs. The man swearing was white, in a wheelchair with only one leg, disheveled and had a bag (instrument sized). The man he was yelling at was black, overweight and had a refreshingly honest sign stating that he needed money to get drunk and high so he could deal with life on the street. Do these little details matter? They did to me, and they might to you as you draw your own conclusions.
The white man was yelling obscenities to the black man saying he was stupid, and if he put in half an effort, he could actually get a job. I’ll let you figure out the obscene words. I listened to it for a full minute. Feeling sorry for the man being yelled at (he appeared to be “taking it” with a grace that I could only describe as strength in vulnerability), I walked over and handed him a dollar. I could not stand the idea of this man’s dignity being ripped from him for all to see. I started to walk away when I started thinking about John Quinones’ report and my class on Vocation, Work and Faith. Had I done enough for a bullied man? Was I like the first two to pass by the man injured on the road? Did I have the courage to be a Good Samaritan? This is not yet where I ask “What would you do?”
I walked up to the black man and asked if he would like me to call the police. The guy said no and followed it up with a comment that the [white] man would leave soon enough. The obscenities continued, and I said, “Sir, I think it’s time to move along now.” (He had been telling the black man to get out of his f---ing way… except that guy was sitting on a park bench) Completely ignoring me, the man continued. I raised my voice above what I thought possible and yelled, “Sir. Either you need to move along or I need to call the police.” (I really need to get the non-emergency number for BPD on my phone.) I started to call 911, and another man from the crowd stood next to me. The white man left in a huff, and I was left to explain to the 911 operator why I no longer needed their service.
Now, here comes the part of “What would you do?” A man came up to me immediately after this and said I had no business getting involved. I had it all wrong. The facts were that the man in the wheelchair was there first and was playing music. The other man came over and instigated everything with yelling at him [white]. I defended the wrong man, and I gave the wrong man money. Now, what would you do?
2 comments:
I suppose my initial reaction to this is that I don't hand out money. I walk quickly past the homeless, and am more inclined to give money to charities. I do believe in giving food, though. A granola bar, whatever... So I find it unlikely I'd be in this situation. But if I were... I'd probably take the opportunity to mumble something unintelligible and get out of there. Is that taking the chicken way out? Absolutely... But it's what I'd do. We make decisions, whether wrong or right... And sometimes we just have to let them be.
1) If someone disagrees, does it justify dehumanizing the other? No. You reacted to what you saw ... one person calling another stupid.
2) That guy on the street did not have a right to judge you.
3) I would be curious: What are the rules governing street living? Particularly when it comes to "territory" and "ownership"? In regards to survival, what is the importance of "defending" one's ownership or territory?
That said, I was on a city bus in Boston. Someone stole someone else's cigarettes. The woman denied it though, continuously. The lady, from whom the cigarettes were stolen, yelled, swore and made a fuss. The woman (a pro at stealing) continue to deny she had stolen the cigarettes. When I got off the bus, the problem had not been resolved. Thus, when something bad does happen, it seems that the way to resolve it is through yelling and making a fuss ... how does one resolve the situation? Tell the one to stop yelling? Or tell the other to give back the cigarettes? Or tell them both to quiet down? I don't know the answer.
-Joy
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