I still can’t, for the life of me, figure out why some people are so afraid of someone who looks different. Homeless people, for some reason, scare the bejesus out of people. Some others are afraid of – or even worse, hate – anyone of a different color. It simply doesn’t make sense to me.
There are folks who won’t come to Tulsa and especially downtown because they are afraid. Of what? Well, the best I can tell is they have convinced themselves that there are certain people lying in wait to jump into their cars and do something horrible to them.
We had a letter to the editor last week recounting a visit to downtown that was ruined by a homeless man pecking on the window of their car wanting money. The restaurant patrons alerted the restaurant workers, who alerted the police. The restaurant patrons, and letter writers, were astounded to find the same man lingering near their car when they left. They say they are not likely to come downtown again anytime soon.
Did I miss something? Did someone get hurt or robbed or was it merely the sight of a disadvantaged man that so offended these people? Yes, someone pecking on your window can be somewhat startling. And only a fool would roll down the window. But was that incident really enough to make someone swear off downtown?
The restaurant can call the police and they certainly will respond, but there is little they can do unless the guy is breaking a law. Vagrancy is no longer illegal.
I might be the exception, and I doubt it, but in all the years – 37 – that I have worked downtown I have had few problems. I have been hustled for money and, yes, I have been cussed at, but I remain unhurt.
Only last weekend I was downtown listening to some live music. I left the club around 2 a.m. Now, I am not stupid so I don’t put myself in dangerous situations. But neither do I run down a street to get away. But this night I was walking my ex-wife to her car. Like I said, I don’t do stupid things like letting unescorted women walk alone at night. But I would do the same at 71st and Memorial.
Anyway, there is a guy leaning against the building on First Street. I have been around enough to know it was a homeless man and it was a good bet that he was going to ask for money. As my ex and I walked by he said nothing. After walking her to her car I returned on the same path. The man started to speak and I immediately handed him a couple of bucks. I could have passed on by as most people did. But for some reason I respected the fact that the guy didn’t hit me up when I was walking with my ex. For all he knew I would not be coming back his way. Maybe he was incoherent the first time. Doesn’t matter to me. I felt sorry for the guy, but I was not afraid of him.
The other part of this story I will discuss later. But for now how about being smart and cautious but maybe less judgmental. And how about let’s try to stop being afraid of someone simply because he or she might not look like us?
