A Writer's Notebook

Respect

(Real)

     I go to a small Christian college with generally respectful people.  There's always going to be a few toots at the college who are rude or whatever, and I have my days too.
     Something that happened the other day just rubbed me the wrong way and I've been angry about it since.

     I was walking on the right side of the sidewalk like every other person does on campus.  There was basically no one on campus that weekend since it was Easter.  It was an introvert's paradise.  I had so much fun and I stayed in my room practically the whole time.  The only time I would leave was to get food (or go for a walk). 
     I grabbed lunch that day and was headed back to my dorm basking in the solitude (and laughing at myself because had I tried to talk to the cashier and I hadn't used my voice in over twelve hours - that ended in a silly croak.  I have really bad luck at the cafeteria!)  Then I saw a dude walking down the sidewalk also on his right side.  (I say dude because I'm not sure they are men at this point and they're definitely not boys either...you understand?)  He was clean-shaven, tall, white - wearing a nice button-down shirt.  I took no second look at him because...why would I do that.  I'm trying to be alone.  He was  on my left and I focused on staring straight ahead.  
     About ten feet before we passed each other, he swerved over in front of me to my side of the "road".  I was confused.  There was literally no one else in sight, much less on the sidewalk with us!  My natural reaction was to get out of his way, so I started to move to my left to stay on the sidewalk, but he moved as if he would move that way too.  I stared down at his feet trying to figure out which way he was going to go because I was absolutely bewildered.  We were still moving towards each other quickly and we were going to collide if something didn't change!  I was shocked as I realized I would be forced off the sidewalk.  I stepped off into a patch of grass and continued walking.  

Okay.  Here's my problem.  What the heck, dude.
Is my happiness over a salad, iced tea, and some alone time too much for you?
Do you find it threatening that I did not drop my eyes after looking at you?
Why did you block me when I tried to go around you on the left?
What was your purpose?

     The sidewalks here are very wide; You could fit two wheelchairs next to each other easily with room to spare. It was not the sidewalk's fault.

     There was no one looking.  We were totally alone.  It was not peer pressure.

     I was exercising my right of using a public walking space.  I naturally look down when I pass people and I decided not to that time because we were literally the only two people on campus and why would we be rude to each other?  I don't think it was me.

     My friends, I have experienced being pushed around before.  I have been moved aside by men who didn't want alter their course on a walk.  I have intentionally walked on the left side just to see what people's reaction would be - but I moved off the sidewalk if someone had no place to merge to.  But I have never been forced off the sidewalk in any of these experiences.  What gives?

I'm sorry that this is not the most organized of writings.  It is a Tuesday at 11 pm.  Words are kinda weird at this point of a college student approaching finals.  However, I believe it gets my point across.  

  I am white. I am American. I am Christian. I am female. I possess physical characteristics that are appealing to the media.
These groups I am classified with are often the the ones attacking anyone who is not like them with hate.
I was attacked on one front. I am female. I consider that to be the reason the dude decided to assert dominance.
I have never been attacked for any of these other fronts. And yet, brothers and sisters of mine are hurt daily. Racism, nationalism, sexism, sexualism (yeah that's a word), there's no word for discrimination again religion but that too. These blights in our world are a nightmare to so many people. It comes down to one thing.  

My dear friends, It comes to you.
No, not even the large group of you.
If I could point a finger through my screen I would.  I would stab it at your heart and say, "You, one person. You are responsible for making the world a better place."
I don't need you be a superhero.
I don't need you to sing "Are You" for a Hunger Games commercial.
I don't need you to go through a Rocky training montage.
I don't need you to do anything but use common sense.

Even if you are having the worst day in eternity - I don't care if you are man or woman or non-binary.
I don't care if you're Millennial, Baby Boomer, or Gen X.
I don't care what color your skin is or what your accent is like.
I don't care if you are the Queen of England or a child on the dirt floor. 
Recognize that the person next to you faces painful struggles just like you do. 
Realize that they love, and hate, and live just the same as you. 
I beg you, do not hurt them worse than the world has already done.

That one thing to be done by You: be kind.