Saturday, July 25, 2009

The Lie We All Live In

Earlier this week, my next-door neighbors Devon and Trina Ward noticed the letter N sprayed into their front lawn, accompanied by an empty container of Skoal, beer bottles and chicken bones. Soon after it became mailbox conversation and sidewalk small talk.

On Friday, police officers were canvassing the street, interviewing neighbors about the unfortunate incident. I myself got a ring at the doorbell from officer Rodriguez. None of us had noticed anything out of the ordinary. The police downplayed the incident and advised the Wards to cover it up.

Unbelievable.

The Wards reached out through other channels; local papers, WBAL TV-11 News and myself.
Melissa Carlson and John Cassini from WBAL interviewed the Wards, my mother and myself. Do I feel safe in my own neighborhood, they asked.

"Its the lie we all live in," I told Carlson. Its Columbia and anyone who thinks civility is the categorical imperative of our town needs to add Tom Paine to their bumper. Einstein said time and space are relative. I think he should add safety to the list.

Now I'm asking the readers of this blog and other local blogs to spread the word. The "not in my neighborhood" mentality ends where the driveways meet the streets. And on Columbia's summer streets, many a youth walks around with nothing to do.

So if you've got nothing better to do, or you'd like the details, tune in to 11 News at 11pm for the story and thanks for reading.

9 comments:

Dr. Spaulding said...

Please post the video clip for those of us without cable!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I can't believe that happened. I just sent Trina and Devon a note expressing our sympathies and support.
I grew up in Columbia and never encountered racism like that. Except for that one idiot whose house backed onto Cradlerock Way and flew the Confederate flag off of his balcony, until everyone pitched a fit.
I didn't discover true racism until I joined the military and started to see other parts of the country. Columbia is definitely a 'bubble', I love your Einstein quote adaptation, couldn't have put it better myself.

The intriguing thing is that the Wards are one of many black families on the cul-de-sac. Their next door neighbors are the Kahns, Sunni-Pakistanis, across the street from them, another black family the Washingtons (who raised their now 40 year old children in that house), go down the street and you'll encounter 2 more Pakistani families, and three other black families. A very multi-cultural street. My guess is the Wards were targets because of their house location, being on a corner provides the opportunity for more accessible vandalism.

True shame.

素人 said...

最近流行りの素人ホスト!アナタも体験してみませんか?OLや人妻の女性たちは出張ホストサービスで男性を探し、疑似恋愛を求めているのです。ホスト希望の方なら容姿や年齢は一切不問!ご近所の女性を探して、高収入をゲットしよう

セレブラブ said...

毎月10万円を最低ラインとする謝礼を得て、セレブ女性に癒しを与える仕事があります。無料登録した後はメールアプローチを待つだけでもOK、あなたもセレブラブで欲求を満たしあう関係を作ってみませんか

救援部 said...

オ○ニーライフのお手伝い、救援部でHな見せたがり女性からエロ写メ、ムービーをゲットしよう!近所の女の子なら実際に合ってHな事ができちゃうかも!?夏で開放的になっている女の子と遊んじゃおう

逆援助 said...

メル友募集のあそび場「ラブフリー」はみんなの出逢いを応援する全国版の逆援助コミュニティーです!女の子と真剣にお付き合いしたい方も、複数の女性と戯れたい方も今すぐ無料登録からどうぞ

倶楽部 said...

簡単にお小遣い稼ぎをしたい方必見、当サイト逆¥倶楽部では無料登録して女性の性の欲求に応えるだけのアルバイトです。初心者でもすぐに高収入の逆¥交際に興味をもたれた方はTOPページまでどうぞ。

素人 said...

男性が主役の素人ホストでは、女性の体を癒してあげるだけで高額な謝礼がもらえます。欲求不満な人妻や、男性と出逢いが無い女性が当サイトで男性を求めていらっしゃいます。興味のある方はTOPページからどうぞ

家出 said...

これから家出したい少女や、現在家出中の娘とそんな娘と遊びたい人を繋げるSOS掲示板です。家庭内の問題などでやむなく家出している子が多数書き込みしています。女の子リストを見て彼女たちにメールを送ってみませんか