My daily bus ride

I work in downtown and ride a commuter bus from a park and ride lot.

going to keep it vague at this point as to the details.

I am just amazed at the arrogance of people and the assumptions they make because you look like them. These people ride into downtown everyday and treat the experience as a visit to the zoo. We sit up in this tall, comfortable, heated, bus and view the "city" as a urban getto full of crazy, drunk, messed up homeless folks. oh, and lots of black folks.

Way too many of those...."gotta keep your eyes open".

Christ on a crutch.

I sit there on Monday morning hearing people talk about Sunday's sermon at church and how their spiritual leader moved them.

Then I see the look on their faces as we cruise into downtown and pass the homeless guy sleeping on the sidewalk. The look is not one of tolerance, sadness, or even pity.

The look I see would shame Jesus.

It is the look of fear, loathing, intolerance, and worse....Indifference.

"guess he is happy like that"
"wish the police would do something about this"
"why doesn't Franklin (mayor) do something about this"
" need to put them to work picking up the trash around here"

Actual comments by my bus buddies.

At times I make comments like " you know, we really do not fund mental health very well in this nation or the state" or comments concerning that there is a "big picture" and historical issues (poverty, education, racism) that created this.

Then the uncomfortable silence.

Another bus buddy lost. damn.