Photo by PoPville flickr user Tim Brown
“Dear PoPville,
Last night, I was on the metro and went to sit in an empty seat but instead of moving in, the person just stood up making me squeeze past. I was upset at the incourtesy, as I’m sure my body language and heavy breathing made clear. Maybe I made it too clear, since the guy tapped my arm to get my attention. Was our fight about to begin? No, he wanted to let me know that he was sorry about the violence lately (I wear a yarmulke) and just wanted to express his support. I immediately felt like a huge asshole.
The metro is often so dehumanizing, but he saw me as a human in that moment. And it put my petty annoyances in perspective. I’m so grateful to him for his kindess and reminder to see each other as people, even as the metro makes us feel like cattle. Or as Rabbi Hillel once said, “In a place where there are no humans, you must strive to be human.” These are incredible times. So long as there are fewer people like me in that moment and more like him, I think we may just survive them.”