On my train to New York City today, there were tons of people, both young and old, festively dressed for the Pride parade.  In the wake of New York’s gay marriage law passing, this event seems more of a celebration than ever before.  I’ve always enjoyed my visits to New York; I fell in love with it on my first trip there and I have jumped at any opportunity to go back.  Emerging from Penn Station onto 7th Avenue, I always feel a small sense of excitement that I am part of a greater, diverse whole that is a far cry from my small suburban upbringings.  As I passed many people trekking north for the march, rainbow flags in hand, my level excitement was at a 10.  The whole thing reminded me of something my level 101 teacher said in class: scenes are better when we all agree.  Agree on the ultimate reality of life: we are all human, we are all equal.  No one should be denied anything another person has based on cultural, ideological, or biological differences.  Too idealistic/foolish?  Who cares, we can make it happen.  Thanks to New York for taking a step in the right direction.

And on the opposite side of the spectrum…

I was in Penn Station waiting for the train home.  I was reading a book and I had my headphones on, which is the universal sign for “I’m trying to avoid all human contact.”  Still, I was approached by a man who began speaking to me way before he was standing next to me.  I didn’t quite hear what he was saying yet but from previous experience I knew he would probably be asking me for money.  In general, I am not against giving money to people who ask for it.  I’ve led a relatively fortunate life to this point and I feel like I should share what I have with those who have less.  I removed my headphones to hear the guy’s pitch.  It is at this point I hear one of the more shocking things I’ve ever heard that wasn’t in a piece of fiction:

“Excuse me, I just got out of prison after 6 years for raping my 9 year old daughter.”  He shrugs. “I feel I have paid my debt and I am ready to move on with my life.  I’m trying to get back to my family in Albany but the train costs $16.50 and I only have $3.”

Talk about smashing someone’s worldview.  How is this person, who not only can commit such an horrific act but also can bring it up so cavalierly in his plea for train fare, as if it never happened, ever be an equal to myself or any other decent human being?  This short interaction took all the wind out of the sails of my good feelings from just three hours prior.  I’m not gullible enough to believe that things like this aren’t happening more often but it is shocking and heartbreaking to be callously smacked in the face with such a brutal truth, especially just after getting some confirmation that human beings can be fair and decent to one another.  I spent the entire train ride trying to rationalize my worldview with this bleak information.  I haven’t come up with an adequate resolution yet but I do have one overly simplified request for the human population:

Please behave.  You will make it so much easier for me to like you if you do.