Comments on: When We Don’t Know Each Other http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/08/06/when-we-dont-know-each-other/ Thoughts on the Journey Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:52:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Chicago Gal http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/08/06/when-we-dont-know-each-other/#comment-37423 Chicago Gal Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:34:52 +0000 http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/?p=1534#comment-37423 I had a completley different (non violent) experience this week with needing to know my neighbors. On Saturday evening upon coming home late with my boyfriend there were cop cars in front of my condo building. I stopped to ask what had happened and found out it was a music volume disturbance and met the neighbor that had made the call about it. Turns out he is across the courtyard from me on the same floor. We talked outside for about an hour that night about the building and how no one knows anyone and how that isn't very secure considering the issues Oak Park has. Then on Monday evening Chicago had a huge thunderstorm and the tornado sirens were on. I saw the neighbor across the courtyard and we opened our windows and discussed if this was the real deal or not and decided to round up the pets and go in the building basement. The storm ended up being voilent but not damaging the building at all. But it got us both down there faster knowing we had eachother to confer and help with managing pets (3 cats). Suprisingly, we also were joined by other neighbors in the basement during the storm and it was a good chat and a way for all of us to get closer so that the next time someone needs help we can be there. I do wonder though if the neighbors that were not down there would have come if they knew us too. I had a completley different (non violent) experience this week with needing to know my neighbors. On Saturday evening upon coming home late with my boyfriend there were cop cars in front of my condo building. I stopped to ask what had happened and found out it was a music volume disturbance and met the neighbor that had made the call about it. Turns out he is across the courtyard from me on the same floor. We talked outside for about an hour that night about the building and how no one knows anyone and how that isn’t very secure considering the issues Oak Park has.

Then on Monday evening Chicago had a huge thunderstorm and the tornado sirens were on. I saw the neighbor across the courtyard and we opened our windows and discussed if this was the real deal or not and decided to round up the pets and go in the building basement. The storm ended up being voilent but not damaging the building at all. But it got us both down there faster knowing we had eachother to confer and help with managing pets (3 cats). Suprisingly, we also were joined by other neighbors in the basement during the storm and it was a good chat and a way for all of us to get closer so that the next time someone needs help we can be there. I do wonder though if the neighbors that were not down there would have come if they knew us too.

]]> By: wilsonian http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/2008/08/06/when-we-dont-know-each-other/#comment-37410 wilsonian Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:48:27 +0000 http://blog.iamnotashamed.net/?p=1534#comment-37410 I'm familiar with the second story... I live a few hours away from where it happened, and it was quite prominent in the news. A few points: -the geography here might be helpful. The man lived in Toronto, but worked in Owen Sound. They are a couple hours apart. It would have been difficult for this man to know his Owen Sound neighbours, and they to know him, because he commuted in to work. While I think it alters the way you use the story, it remains a lesson in the anonymity that comes with being a commuter. -I don't know if gender has anything to do with it, but in an interview I heard with the Mayor (who happens to be female), she said the attack was absolutely race-related. -the population of Owen Sound looks a lot like the inside of a loaf of Wonder Bread. The Toronto man was likely the only black person in the area. I'm not sure which is more tragic... the events that happened, or the culture it happened in. -as the story has unfolded... the entire story was made up. There was no rape. There was no black rapist. There was no "mistaken identity" because a rape never happened. The crime here is that an innocent man paid a very high price for someone else's lie. I’m familiar with the second story… I live a few hours away from where it happened, and it was quite prominent in the news. A few points:
-the geography here might be helpful. The man lived in Toronto, but worked in Owen Sound. They are a couple hours apart. It would have been difficult for this man to know his Owen Sound neighbours, and they to know him, because he commuted in to work. While I think it alters the way you use the story, it remains a lesson in the anonymity that comes with being a commuter.
-I don’t know if gender has anything to do with it, but in an interview I heard with the Mayor (who happens to be female), she said the attack was absolutely race-related.
-the population of Owen Sound looks a lot like the inside of a loaf of Wonder Bread. The Toronto man was likely the only black person in the area. I’m not sure which is more tragic… the events that happened, or the culture it happened in.
-as the story has unfolded… the entire story was made up. There was no rape. There was no black rapist. There was no “mistaken identity” because a rape never happened. The crime here is that an innocent man paid a very high price for someone else’s lie.

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