Comments on: Community ethic http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729 nature and music in the San Juan Islands, from composer Alex Shapiro Thu, 09 May 2013 22:20:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Alex Shapiro http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226731 Alex Shapiro Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:43:15 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226731 THIS is a fascinating description of what's called "Bystander Effect": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect THIS is a fascinating description of what’s called “Bystander Effect”:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

]]> By: Alex Shapiro http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226730 Alex Shapiro Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:39:46 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226730 Oh, and to answer the question: "what happened to the woman?": unfortunately I have no idea, because once the EMTs arrived, I immediately backed off to give them plenty of room, and then went to my gate to grab my flight. With luck, she was just temporarily faint and is now fine; she seemed to be feeling a little better by the time the paramedics got there. Oh, and to answer the question: “what happened to the woman?”: unfortunately I have no idea, because once the EMTs arrived, I immediately backed off to give them plenty of room, and then went to my gate to grab my flight. With luck, she was just temporarily faint and is now fine; she seemed to be feeling a little better by the time the paramedics got there.

]]> By: Alex Shapiro http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226729 Alex Shapiro Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:36:28 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226729 Tom: Exactly. All others: Many thanks for your insightful comments. And you each know that there was absolutely nothing special or remarkable about anything I did; anyone we count among our "people" would have done that and more. When something as simple as bending down to a person in distress and directing someone to call 911 becomes a notable act, it's an indicator that our society of humans is surely disintegrating. Tom: Exactly.

All others: Many thanks for your insightful comments. And you each know that there was absolutely nothing special or remarkable about anything I did; anyone we count among our “people” would have done that and more. When something as simple as bending down to a person in distress and directing someone to call 911 becomes a notable act, it’s an indicator that our society of humans is surely disintegrating.

]]> By: Barry http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226728 Barry Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:48:31 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226728 Alex, the rescuer, I did wonder as you requested, but mostly at my most inappropriate immediate thought - "God, Alex, people are dying to meet you!" Now, past that moment of WTF, I'm so proud of you and glad you have compassion for you fellow travelers. That was so kind. This woman will be okay because of you. Wow! Nobody wants to get involved. We all tend toward “passing by on the other side” in these encounters. These people need to Occupy Their Compassion! This sets you apart. Did the EMTs have any input after they came? Do you know if she was okay? Also, sorry about your bird, Barry Alex, the rescuer,

I did wonder as you requested, but mostly at my most inappropriate immediate thought – “God, Alex, people are dying to meet you!”

Now, past that moment of WTF, I’m so proud of you and glad you have compassion for you fellow travelers. That was so kind. This woman will be okay because of you. Wow!

Nobody wants to get involved. We all tend toward “passing by on the other side” in these encounters. These people need to Occupy Their Compassion! This sets you apart. Did the EMTs have any input after they came? Do you know if she was okay?

Also, sorry about your bird,
Barry

]]> By: Russell http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226727 Russell Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:13:48 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226727 This is a wonderfully graphic meditation on the human condition. I wish I had an answer for you. I'm a licensed first responder since my days as a naturalist on cruise ships and now on whale watch boats out of Friday Harbor. The San Juan Islands EMTs hold a training course once at year at their headquarters on Spring Street. Perhaps people without training don't want to get involved because they expect trained people to simply arrive in these situations. Your situation at the airport is odd and a 15 minute response time is inexcusable. This is a wonderfully graphic meditation on the human condition. I wish I had an answer for you. I’m a licensed first responder since my days as a naturalist on cruise ships and now on whale watch boats out of Friday Harbor. The San Juan Islands EMTs hold a training course once at year at their headquarters on Spring Street. Perhaps people without training don’t want to get involved because they expect trained people to simply arrive in these situations. Your situation at the airport is odd and a 15 minute response time is inexcusable.

]]> By: Ross Kane http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226724 Ross Kane Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:25:19 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226724 No one has left a comment, which is sad. THANK YOU FOR STOPPING TO HELP. Quoted variously, Lupus est homo homini, translates to : man is his his own wolf. It's depressing and distressing when we get our noses rubbed in it. I think it's why we live in Communities, like San Juan Island. Or Warm Beach. Ross Kane Warm Beach (Port Susan) No one has left a comment, which is sad. THANK YOU FOR STOPPING TO HELP.

Quoted variously, Lupus est homo homini, translates to : man is his his own wolf.

It’s depressing and distressing when we get our noses rubbed in it.

I think it’s why we live in Communities, like San Juan Island. Or Warm Beach.

Ross Kane
Warm Beach (Port Susan)

]]> By: Tom http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226723 Tom Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:12:53 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226723 So how was the coffee, anyway? So how was the coffee, anyway?

]]> By: Glenn Buttkus http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226721 Glenn Buttkus Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:38:05 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226721 Re-reading your post, something is missing...what happened to the old lady? This fabulous juxtaposition of nature right outside your window, the power outage, the horror of today's air traveling, and the numbing complacency of the public at large is a sterling effort on your part; one of the most touching of your recent posts. I extracted this from the bosom of the posting: Community Ethic It was 11:30 in the August evening. As I worked at my desk, the power suddenly went out. Electricity wasn’t restored until late the next day. From my deck at twilight, I gazed an acre out to the distance. A lone, adult gull hung lifelessly from the electrical wires. Throughout the late summer, hundreds of blackbirds migrated to this spot on San Juan Island, favoring these wires for an excellent perch perspective above the sea. Their busy chatter was incessant and lively. I loved the sound in the distance. For weeks, the little blackbirds lined up all around the gull, unperturbed by its decomposing corpse as they got on with their daily routine. I wonder about humanity. I wonder about the animal world. I wonder about the meaning of community, and inter-connectedness, for us all. And if you’re reading this, I want you to wonder, too. Alex Shapiro Re-reading your post, something is missing…what happened to the old lady? This fabulous juxtaposition of nature right outside your window, the power outage, the horror of today’s air traveling, and the numbing complacency of the public at large is a sterling effort on your part; one of the most touching of your recent posts.

I extracted this from the bosom of the posting:

Community Ethic

It was 11:30 in the August evening.
As I worked at my desk,
the power suddenly went out.
Electricity wasn’t restored
until late the next day.

From my deck at twilight,
I gazed an acre out to the distance.
A lone, adult gull hung lifelessly
from the electrical wires.

Throughout the late summer,
hundreds of blackbirds migrated
to this spot on San Juan Island,
favoring these wires for an excellent
perch perspective above the sea.
Their busy chatter was incessant and lively.
I loved the sound in the distance.

For weeks, the little blackbirds lined up
all around the gull, unperturbed
by its decomposing corpse
as they got on with their daily routine.

I wonder about humanity.
I wonder about the animal world.
I wonder about the meaning of community,
and inter-connectedness, for us all.
And if you’re reading this,
I want you to wonder, too.

Alex Shapiro

]]> By: Glenn Buttkus http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226720 Glenn Buttkus Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:25:36 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226720 From the blackbirds disregarding the dead gull, to the hordes of stressed travelers disregarding the old lady under the table, this tale, this reminiscence is as dark as pitch, and as I read it on this Halloween morn, I am overwhelmed by the recounting, and by you. Yes we can hold our electronic toys and feel empathy for the minions in harm's way globally; but what about the old woman on the floor, the homeless person suffering from hyperthermia, the heart attack victim slumped over his steering wheel at the traffic light while ten cars honk at him? Are we all too busy, too stressed, too insulated to reclaim our humanity? We are proud that you were the one who broke through the stupor, the zombie parade, and bent down to help this woman. Melva would have done the same. I'd like to think I would too, but too often when witnessing a tragedy, I drive on, not wanting to get involved. I am ashamed of my selfishness this day. Your images, your words, pierce my complacence, and make me want to get dressed and go out looking for someone to help, to reach out to. As the flocks and gaggles of tiny monsters come to our door tonight, we need to keep the image of the dead gull, the uncaring blackbirds, and the old lady under the table--all in our hearts and minds; thanks for the wake up call. Love and white light to you and yours. From the blackbirds disregarding the dead gull, to the hordes of stressed travelers disregarding the old lady under the table, this tale, this reminiscence is as dark as pitch, and as I read it on this Halloween morn, I am overwhelmed by the recounting, and by you. Yes we can hold our electronic toys and feel empathy for the minions in harm’s way globally; but what about the old woman on the floor, the homeless person suffering from hyperthermia, the heart attack victim slumped over his steering wheel at the traffic light while ten cars honk at him? Are we all too busy, too stressed, too insulated to reclaim our humanity?

We are proud that you were the one who broke through the stupor, the zombie parade, and bent down to help this woman. Melva would have done the same. I’d like to think I would too, but too often when witnessing a tragedy, I drive on, not wanting to get involved. I am ashamed of my selfishness this day. Your images, your words, pierce my complacence, and make me want to get dressed and go out looking for someone to help, to reach out to.

As the flocks and gaggles of tiny monsters come to our door tonight, we need to keep the image of the dead gull, the uncaring blackbirds, and the old lady under the table–all in our hearts and minds; thanks for the wake up call. Love and white light to you and yours.

]]> By: Bill Belote http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729&cpage=1#comment-226719 Bill Belote Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:04:09 +0000 http://www.alexshapiro.org/blog/?p=1729#comment-226719 I often wonder about too. There are so many examples of amazing altruism, heroism, and selflessness. And then the deadening regularity of people content to just get theirs, whether it is a place in line or an extra scrap of food. That some in our society are searching for justifications to ignore and disdain those less fortunate is depressing were it not for the spirit of those like you who resist that downward slide. I firmly believe the path of evolution supports your impulse. The greatest examples of humanity embody it, and our hope for the planet depends upon it. Thank you Alex, as always, for sharing. I often wonder about too. There are so many examples of amazing altruism, heroism, and selflessness. And then the deadening regularity of people content to just get theirs, whether it is a place in line or an extra scrap of food.

That some in our society are searching for justifications to ignore and disdain those less fortunate is depressing were it not for the spirit of those like you who resist that downward slide. I firmly believe the path of evolution supports your impulse. The greatest examples of humanity embody it, and our hope for the planet depends upon it.

Thank you Alex, as always, for sharing.

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