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i have been mistaken
Nov. 20th, 2003 03:58 pmi went for a short ride today. i would have been gone longer, but on two separate occasions during the 30 minutes i was out, two different groups of children chased me and spat at me. At first i was angry, then i was crushed. Even now, two hours later, i am near tears as i write about this.
This is not the first time this has happened to me here. One other time Master and i were in the car, stopped at a traffic light. A small boy, he couldn't have been over 5, looked at me and shook his fist. i had done nothing. i was sitting in my car, waiting for the light to change. By chance i glanced over and when i made contact with him, he raised his fist and shook it. The look of hatred on his face frightened me. i saw that his parents were probably fundamentalist in their thinking, it appeared they were shi'ite. How can we ever expect peace in thie world when children so young are taught to act so hateful to a person they don't even know and will probably never see again?
Today it was the same type of situation. i was riding on the street. i saw the children playing and moved over to the side of the street to avoid hitting them or interferring in their play. The little girl, perhaps 8, stood on her side of the street and positioned herself as if to stop me should i try to pass close to her. The two little boys began to chase me, the eldest maybe 10, the younger about 5-6 calling me names and acting as if to throw something at me. i kept watch on them because i didn't want to accidently get in their way or hurt them. As i was turning the corner the bigger boy spat on me. At first i was angry, and then i became sad at the thought that he disliked me so much that he had to show it in that way.
About halfway through my ride, i came upon another group of children playing in an empty lot. i was on the opposite side of the street. i intentionally did not make eye contact with any of the three of them, all boys. Then i heard clods of dirt hitting the road behind and next to me. i sped up to avoid being hit. The biggest boy chased after me and yelled something at me and again, spat at me.
i was not dressed in a provacative way. Even my toes were covered. My head was not covered, but that is common in this neighborhood. My clothes were not tight, i was wearing sweats that are loose and baggy. i cannot for the life of me understand how a child can have that much ill feeling toward another person by his/her own initiation. The only thing i can think is that this is an attitude that is learned from home.
It goes along with the post a few days ago when the little girl began to throw rocks at Max, who was in the car, and behaving himself.
If LMSG believes she is naive and too trusting, i must be in the same boat as she. Because i am different i am hated. i cannot believe it. i can believe even less that parents or teachers or other adults are actually telling their children to act in this way. But it must be happening, i have seen it.
i thought i was safe in this country. Today, perhaps i am, but what will happen when these hateful children grow up? i won't be here, but another American will.
This is not the first time this has happened to me here. One other time Master and i were in the car, stopped at a traffic light. A small boy, he couldn't have been over 5, looked at me and shook his fist. i had done nothing. i was sitting in my car, waiting for the light to change. By chance i glanced over and when i made contact with him, he raised his fist and shook it. The look of hatred on his face frightened me. i saw that his parents were probably fundamentalist in their thinking, it appeared they were shi'ite. How can we ever expect peace in thie world when children so young are taught to act so hateful to a person they don't even know and will probably never see again?
Today it was the same type of situation. i was riding on the street. i saw the children playing and moved over to the side of the street to avoid hitting them or interferring in their play. The little girl, perhaps 8, stood on her side of the street and positioned herself as if to stop me should i try to pass close to her. The two little boys began to chase me, the eldest maybe 10, the younger about 5-6 calling me names and acting as if to throw something at me. i kept watch on them because i didn't want to accidently get in their way or hurt them. As i was turning the corner the bigger boy spat on me. At first i was angry, and then i became sad at the thought that he disliked me so much that he had to show it in that way.
About halfway through my ride, i came upon another group of children playing in an empty lot. i was on the opposite side of the street. i intentionally did not make eye contact with any of the three of them, all boys. Then i heard clods of dirt hitting the road behind and next to me. i sped up to avoid being hit. The biggest boy chased after me and yelled something at me and again, spat at me.
i was not dressed in a provacative way. Even my toes were covered. My head was not covered, but that is common in this neighborhood. My clothes were not tight, i was wearing sweats that are loose and baggy. i cannot for the life of me understand how a child can have that much ill feeling toward another person by his/her own initiation. The only thing i can think is that this is an attitude that is learned from home.
It goes along with the post a few days ago when the little girl began to throw rocks at Max, who was in the car, and behaving himself.
If LMSG believes she is naive and too trusting, i must be in the same boat as she. Because i am different i am hated. i cannot believe it. i can believe even less that parents or teachers or other adults are actually telling their children to act in this way. But it must be happening, i have seen it.
i thought i was safe in this country. Today, perhaps i am, but what will happen when these hateful children grow up? i won't be here, but another American will.
