This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Questioning Humanity and Human Kindness

I have something gravely on my mind and it weighs heavy in my heart.  I have had three public altercations this year.  All incidences were of different circumstances.  I will not get into each separate scenarios but tonight's event has left me dumbfounded and disheartened.  Tonight we attended our first Doylestown Santa parade and tree lighting with family and friends.  We moved to Doylestown in January, thinking that our children could grow up in a small town community-environment.   

I am a four foot, eleven inch, Asian female.  I couldn't get a glimpse or a picture of Santa Clause over the crowd this evening, so I politely maneuvered through the crowd and excused myself to each person explaining that I was a short woman.  Most people moved aside for me until  I reached close to the front of the line.  I was behind a woman who was holding her young child.  She was about four inches taller than me.  I asked her if I could please take a quick snap shot of Santa.  Her response to me was appalling. She told me that she had been waiting an hour in line and I was being rude.  I explained to her that I'm only four feet, 11 inches and I would just like to take a snapshot.  The woman proceeded to push me, with her child in her arms.  I told her not to touch me again.  Her friend standing next to her stepped in and also confronted me.  She asked me if I was five years old.  Meanwhile there is a man standing next to both women, just smiling at the whole situation.  I am not sure if he was related or affiliated with the party but he was obviously amused at the "hens pecking."  I took my quick snapshot and then replied to the women that they were the two most immature women I have ever encountered.  The women proceeded to mock and berate me as I walked away.

As I made my way back to my group, I was shaking in my shoes.  NEVER, have I experienced such disrespect, violence and demoralizing treatment from another human being.  In the past six months, I have experienced strangers that were inpatient, disrespectful and intolerant for other human beings.  I have encountered them on my street, at Wawa and now in a crowded public setting.
 
I have lived all over the world, in several cultures and countries and have several international and domestic friends.  I have been a US Citizen ever since I was three years old and my father was a Diplomat and representative for the U.S.   I find the experiences in this town disturbing and disheartening. Especially since we are upon the holiday seasons.  Not only do I question humanity, but I question human kindness and the holiday spirit?

When I approached my group, I explained to them what had just occurred.  Again, I had to explain to my children that physical confrontation and "bullying" was not acceptable. Being that my children are of mixed race and I am 100% Asian, they should never tolerate other people's ignorance.  I have to teach my children they cannot retaliate in physical and violent force, even if the other person approaches them.  But I have told them that they should always stand up for themselves, respond to what they think is right and do not step down.

My son is in middle school and my daughter is in elementary school.  They have heard very similar stories (incidences) from me several times this year.  How can I explain to my children that this is a rare case and this "bullying" rarely happens?  They are already being taught in school about bullying.  But how can we get the message out to our community about stranger bullying?  How do we get adults to set a better example to our children?  This really has me disturbed and I have a difficult time "letting go" or grasping the whole concept.  The event tonight should have been a fun experience but we left early because we did not feel the holiday spirit or community comradery.  I go to bed with a heavy heart tonight.    

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