Heroes,
heroes everywhere
How the New York City Blackout made everyone
who wasn't already a hero a hero
Realizing that I indirectly played a role in the Blackout
of 2003, through my years of supporting government interference
in the market, I thought it was only appropraite to punish
myself a little. I took a belt and starting flailing my own
back, but since it was dark I kept missing. In the end, I
only gave myself a tiny skin wound, but since I couldn't see
it I didn't let it bother me; as they say, out of sight, out
of mind.
On a different note, on my long, hot walk home (I deserved
it), I took inventory of the real heroes from that day.
On 4th St around Washington Square I noted an elderly man
directing traffic. Around the corner, I noted a hoodlum looking
fellow directing traffic (which, it occured to me, was also
good because he probably would have been looting if not directing
traffic). Do you think these two gentlemen asked for anything
in return? (Let it also be said, there were various other
reports citing civilans directing traffic.)
Later on, I noted a man in a motorized wheelchair crossing
the Williamsburg Bridge with hundreds of pedestrians. Now
of course this guy's chair can go way the fuck faster than
someone walking. In normal times, people would have unwittingly
formed a blockade, thus forcing the unfortunate guy to move
at their pace.
But something extraordinary took over -- when the fellow
honked the high-pitched horn attached to his pint-size go
cart, people cleared a path. It was really like the parting
of the sea, the way a hole opened up for this less fortunate
man. It was sort of the like the voice of the people spoke
up and what I heard was: "We see you, man who is less
fortunate than us, we see you. Normally we wouldn't, but today
we do." Obviously, in a situation like this, there are
too many heroes to name. So, we must recognize the people
collectively as the hero.
After this, I noticed neighbors introducing themselves to
each other. Furthermore, I heard someone talking about how
they told another customer that the candles were in aisle
six. And lastly, there were reports that Hasidic Jews in the
village were handing out bottled water.
A silver lining? Try linings.
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