june 26, 2001. One of my personal goals is to be friendly and polite to all who try to get my attention. I used to think about it a great deal when I lived in the city, as a certain generalized rudeness is the norm, even among smart & sensitive people. I see it in people I respect, and I wonder if they think about it too. My general thorn is this: I don't understand how one can expect to receive aid or politeness from others when one is in the habit of: a) ignoring requests for change from the obviously poor/tired/sick/hungry/young/old b) chewing out telemarketers personally c) expecting pedestrians to run/scamper/dash/get the fuck out of the way while one is in a car I also don't understand how those who belong to my faith expect be taken seriously as Christians when they walk on by (best case) or persecute further (worst case). The list above is just a short list off the top of my head, pointing to reactions that I've seen in friends and relatives and most of all, in myself. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular here; this is my personal goal and not yours. I know the difference. Anyway, all of this came to the fore again yesterday. I was walking up the hill after a meeting with Rev. Robyn when I noticed an old man slowly entering the sidewalk up ahead. There was nothing about him to indicate difference: clean clothes, bent back, slow shuffling movements, he had it all. In other words, I didn't really see him. I saw a cipher. I saw a comforting stereotype. As I pulled up alongside him, he turned and began to speak. People talk to me all the time in Wolfville and it's easy to be polite. I expected him to pass the time of day, like most. He held out a hand. 'Dya have a nickel?' I heard my voice become falsely solicitous and high-pitched. "I don't think I do. I think all I have are my keys." Which was true, but I was only dimly aware of that at the time. For some reason, his question had freaked me out and I was having trouble freaking back in again. His response was low-pitched & guttural, a long "hrrrrmmmm!" I walked on. And the question is, so what? What does it all mean? "I don't see what's so heroic about a dog barking if its hair is on fire. Now if a cat woke you up, that would be something." Travis suddenly wheels and points to the cat. "Useless!" Thank god Twitch City is back on the air. this time 2 years ago: irish drama this time 3 years ago: sweet dreams