By Nicole Demouth
No more moving out
There is a little bit of mob in all of us. Well, there should be. Factor out the extortion and the supposed murder, and you’re left with territorial protection. Organized neighborhoods are a wonderful thing.
Some live in gated communities, some pay heavy dues for law enforcement patrols, and some neighbors collectively understand everything from head nods to motioning eyes when something or someone seething trouble appears.
Whether the latter neighborhoods park their cars parallel to each other to slow traffic to a comfortable speed, sip coffee and play cards on the corner for the sake of occupying space, or gather to talk graciously of life on the front lawn with arms crossed and toes up, their right of territory is often shunned. Just the same, it is often misconstrued.
Naysayers will argue illegal activity is being hidden, or play the race card claiming discrimination, or they might swear that the neighborhood is just plain hoary.
What the protective neighborhood is never given is a chance to explain. Then again, they probably won’t, and why should they?
If you don’t want the child molester moving in next store, if you don’t want tagging on your buildings, if you still want the delivery boy to come to your house, or if you want your “mom and pop” shops to prosper, take the neighborhood watch steps further (Notice: steps, not leaps). Sad to say, the little sleuth on signs attached to telephone poles does something, but not enough.
I do believe that the only great examples of such unity are the mob, be it Italian, Irish, Asian, etc., and perhaps the 50’s “class clash” books and films, as well.
For between the lines was a bit of truth. Yes, to most of us, television and/or film are as close as we get to that particular way of life but, dare I say it, what an example!
If you saw the Spike Lee movie “Summer of Sam,” refer back to the night the lights went out while he was still loose. The head of the neighborhood called a meeting, handed out various tasks and took to the streets, making sure that the women and children were safe until the lunatic was caught. In some places, this happens even when there isn’t devastation.
More recently, some of the greatest threats to Americans are other Americans. What better way to get to know your neighbor and shed such thought than to talk and learn what each other believe in to protect yourself, your family, and your personal belongings?
Besides, if the guy next door is at home and not on the national news bashing citizens like yourself then you’ve got quite a gift that most people overlook.
I don’t believe in roaming gangs bullying those passing through peacefully. I don’t believe in children learning any sort of hatred or discrimination. And I certainly don’t think that handholding with a fellow neighbor is going to make each and every day bright and sunny. But you should not be ashamed to keep one eye open, stand up for what you value, and maintain a safe environment where you live. There are lots of people who would love to take that away from you.
