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the kids in North Minneapolis (NOMI)
2018-Jul-24, Tuesday 08:00 pmI just came back from the pseudo-park at the rainwater runoff pond nearby. While getting a baggie out to pick up Dominic's poo in the grass by the sidewalk, two young kids riding a single bicycle came through. "Get that filthy dog out of my way!" and the other one laughed. I felt a sudden uncharitable anger in response. We were clear on one side of the wide park path, nowhere close to blocking their route, but they had to beat their metaphorical chests to assure their social dominance over strangers anyway. I guess male humans learn at a very young age how easily their fragile egos are threatened. Pre-emptive strike policy; I wonder where they learned that tactic?
Meanwhile on the way back home, I got waylaid by 8 youngsters as we approached my house. I don't know what to make of the kids on this block. Everybody wants to pet the dog or have someone else encourage them to pet him. They're fascinated by Dominic. They like his bi-color eyes, they like his dalmation spots, and they like his "panda" ears as one girl calls them. He likes them too, until he's swarmed and they're screaming. They fear the dog, though, and ask if he'd bite them if I told the dog to do it. (What are people teaching the dogs you've met?!) I don't like talking to people in general, much less strangers, so this whole dog-owning experience is an exercise for me in patience and sociability.
They asked again today about my poop bags, so I gave them a demonstration of how I use them to pick up after Dominic in the park. Afterwards, one of the older boys (still young) experimented with dropping a beer bottle in the street. The other kids tell him not to, because "that guy" (meaning me) will pick up the broken glass "... and he didn't even do anything". They've noticed me cleaning the street, apparently. Minutes later, the same kid wanders across the street into somebody's backyard with the beer bottle. A young girl shouts, "No! You'll get in trouble!" And another boy tells her, "You shut up!".
Life here is violent. Options are limited. City council won't talk about things like guaranteed minimum income, and their Minneapolis 2040 plan doesn't even mention the coming technological unemployment. I don't know how the home life of these kids is ever going to improve while their parents are also stressed out. These old 2010 statistics point out that my zip code has high unemployment and about 1/3 in my Jordan neighborhood live below poverty threshold.
So the cycle continues in the #WarzoneInMinneapolis. I keep growing food plants in the front yard, I keep cleaning up the broken glass in the sidewalk and street, and I keep introducing my friendly dog to the kids. Something's gotta matter, right?
Meanwhile on the way back home, I got waylaid by 8 youngsters as we approached my house. I don't know what to make of the kids on this block. Everybody wants to pet the dog or have someone else encourage them to pet him. They're fascinated by Dominic. They like his bi-color eyes, they like his dalmation spots, and they like his "panda" ears as one girl calls them. He likes them too, until he's swarmed and they're screaming. They fear the dog, though, and ask if he'd bite them if I told the dog to do it. (What are people teaching the dogs you've met?!) I don't like talking to people in general, much less strangers, so this whole dog-owning experience is an exercise for me in patience and sociability.
They asked again today about my poop bags, so I gave them a demonstration of how I use them to pick up after Dominic in the park. Afterwards, one of the older boys (still young) experimented with dropping a beer bottle in the street. The other kids tell him not to, because "that guy" (meaning me) will pick up the broken glass "... and he didn't even do anything". They've noticed me cleaning the street, apparently. Minutes later, the same kid wanders across the street into somebody's backyard with the beer bottle. A young girl shouts, "No! You'll get in trouble!" And another boy tells her, "You shut up!".
Life here is violent. Options are limited. City council won't talk about things like guaranteed minimum income, and their Minneapolis 2040 plan doesn't even mention the coming technological unemployment. I don't know how the home life of these kids is ever going to improve while their parents are also stressed out. These old 2010 statistics point out that my zip code has high unemployment and about 1/3 in my Jordan neighborhood live below poverty threshold.
So the cycle continues in the #WarzoneInMinneapolis. I keep growing food plants in the front yard, I keep cleaning up the broken glass in the sidewalk and street, and I keep introducing my friendly dog to the kids. Something's gotta matter, right?