From The Inside Out

Halloween In Leaside

Poem

 

Every Halloween, my wife and I walk through our community to take in the festivities. All kinds of things happen on our block and the neighbours go all out. This year we saw Elvis, Santa Claus, and Dracula; and those were just the adults. One house was lit with black lights and in the door, waiting for trick-or-treaters, was a mummy handing out candies. Even I was scared!

As we were walking, we saw something strangely familiar. In front of us was a young, scruffy looking kid with a five o'clock shadow, tattered clothes, and messy hair wielding a squeegee. For a second it didn't even occur to me that this was out of place. Then I did a double take. I realized that this was a middle class kid in the middle of Leaside who dressed up as a squeegee kid for Halloween. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I began experiencing all kinds of emotions. My first reaction was anger and disgust. Did this kid think that being a squeegee kid ranked up there with being a wicked witch? Did his parents give him permission to dress like this? Do they not know how offensive this really is to those who are poor and can tell countless stories of many kinds of abuse? Should I say something to him?

It was this last question that made me switch gears a little. What would I say? Would it even remotely make any sense to these people who are so far removed from anything a squeegee kid might go through? (Except for the kids in their middle class homes who are experiencing some kind of abuse) I was in the middle of a crisis. I understood that while I was only a 10-minute drive away from the nearest squeegee kid, I was a world away from it. Should I be here? Is it ethical for me, an advocate for the poor, to live in a place that can't comprehend the far reaching effects of such poverty? What should I do?

While the jury is still out on my overall impression of this experience, I did come to some conclusions:

  1. I need not feel guilty for being blessed with material things while others have not.
  2. I must never take for granted the things that I have.
  3. If I have extra resources, I should do what I can to help those who are not as privileged as I am. I should not hoard my money or material goods.
  4. I should do what I can in the community I live in to educate those around me as to the importance of being aware of the plight of others. Not everyone has the same understanding of poverty that I do. I should not judge them, but work hard to educate.
  5. When I vote, even if it's in Leaside, I need to vote for those with a wise social conscience and keep them accountable.
  6. It's easy to forget that most people have no idea about the things I see day to day and regard as normal. It's important to not take this lifestyle setting as 'status quo' and I should place myself in situations to remind me that what I see every day is not the way it has to, or should, be.
  7. I should always remember that my life is interconnected with those around me. I do not stand alone as a separate entity, getting what I can out of life regardless of who I step on along the way.
  8. I need to get out more!

Anyway, that's what I've learned from Halloween in Leaside this year. Maybe some of it is relevant to us here at The GateWay. In the meantime, keep on being The Hand of God in the Heart of the City.

Dion