Things I Notice

There is a difference between what we say and what we do. I suppose that is an obvious statement. Here is another one, a statement, that is not perhaps as obvious. I know that there is a difference between what we say is acceptable and what actually is acceptable. Example, I know that it is illegal to leave your dog’s poop on the ground. We are suppose to “stoop and scoop”. I also know, however, that it is acceptable not too. How do I know this? Well, look around next time you are outside. There is dog poop everywhere! No one seems to stoop and scoop in the winter. Some how it is acceptable to leave your dog’s poop wherever it happens fall.

Another example. Apparently if you suffer from any kind of addiction you have a built in escape clause. You can live your life absuing and doing whatever you want. Treating people lile crap, flaunting the rules, whatever.. You can do all this because when you finally get caught you can stand up and blame your addiction. That's right, I am drug addicted and now I see the error of my ways. More like you're sorry you got caught and now you'll use whatever is at your disposal to be let off the hook. How nice that must be for those people out there that choose to abuse pills and alcohol. Just do whatever you want, no worries, when the time comes to face the piper you'll be off the hook. I wonder if my chocolate addiction and some times sex addiction will do the same for me? I wonder, but not all that much as I some how know it wont.

Let’s see what else. How about the street person, that is as I type, lying in the doorway of the office building across the street. He is smoking something and will no doubt leave behind a mess and if we are all really lucky he will pee in the doorway as well (the guy is gone now and he didn’t pee and there is no mess). I know this is ok because it happens all the time and we all just walk on by. I wonder what would happen if I decided to pee in the doorway and throw my garbage there. I have a suspicion that I would be held accountable for my actions. I would be because I have a home and no real addictions to speak of. Why do we have this double standard? If it is okay for him to pee there it’s okay for me.

To continue, what’s with those among us that think it’s okay to scream obscenities at the top of their lungs? You know the ones, they are walking down the street and they are screaming and yelling “f” this and “f” that. It’s not always street people either. I figure we could have maintained our standards and kept this as one of those things that is not acceptable. I know, however, that it is because not one of us ever says anything. It’s like littering, that’s acceptable as well.

I could go on and on here. Grid locking, that’s more than acceptable, just hang out at any downtown intersection at rush hour. But the one that beats all others, the really big one that we have embraced so deeply. Enabling. Yes, it is totally acceptable to enable all those around us that are dependent or abusive. I think the enablers are worse than the abusers. Without the enablers I think we would have far less “victims” and addicts walking our streets. Keep that in mind the next time you make an excuse for someone.

On the other hand, knowing all this makes it a bit easier to live. Think about it. I can pee wherever I choose and I can toss my litter on the ground. It’s great to know that I do not have to concern myself with picking up after my dog. If everyone else can leave the poop so can I. I am also relieved that I can do drugs at the bottom of the stairwell of the office building next door and I can yell curse words at passers by. I can also have a crap in the park after I have had sex with some random person and then have a bath in the fountain. I can also enable my friends and family, how superior does that makes me feel. The only problem I have is that if I ever get caught and forced to face my behavior I have no addiction to fall back on to save my sorry ass.

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The other day I was driving around town delivering flowers (which is fun but can be stressful when the arrangement falls over in the back of the van) and I noticed a large billboard at Bathurst and Eglinton. In very large letters it called out “Never Forget, Never Again”. It is an ad for the UJA’s Holocaust Centre. I drove by thinking; of course never forget never again. Wait a minute hasn’t it already happened again?

I’d rather we were not at war with anyone ever. However, I do not think I am that naïve or idealistic to think that war is totally avoidable. I do believe that we should be very careful about whom we launch bombs onto. We argue up and down about Iraq. What scares me is that we all stand by while genocide lives and thrives. Not to mention truly oppressive governments that deprive their populations of life’s basic requirements. Anyone considered Korea?

Although I understand the message of the UJA’s sign I think they may want to think a little bit bigger picture. I’d say that the message is a bit self-centred. I would like to think that organizations like the UJA would be the first to scream from the rooftops when it happens again. I am all for remembering and for education. We need to work at not repeating our history. I just think we all need to start thinking about everyone. We are not groups; we are all in this together. If you are going to focus on your own group, fine. Let’s just be honest and upfront about it. Perhaps the sign should read “Never Forget about Us, Never Again to Us.

My two cents.