Friday afternoon I was killing time waiting for Sam to pick me up to go see Wanted (good movie, btw), when I heard a quiet knock on the door.
Opening it, I found some chick standing there with a clipboard and paper. She stated that she was going door-to-door asking people what they thought could be improved in their communities, or what their concerns are.
I said that I had no real concerns - I don’t fear for my safety when I’m out and about and I’m pretty happy with my community. The only thing I could think of was maybe beefing up Skytrain security - she asked how, I said more Skytrain police presence wouldn’t be a bad thing, and I think cameras surrounding the stations would be good. Not that I want us to go as far as the UK with cameras everywhere, but it makes sense for high-traffic public areas that you’re forced to use (cause you gotta get to work) to try to provide that safety and security as a pre-caution. Instead of, you know, waiting till some lady gets mugged or somebody gets killed for them to take another step in increasing surveillance and security presence.
She asked how we could go about getting this accomplished - I said well I guess the only way is writing letters, sending e-mails, signing petitions… what else can one do.
That’s when she revealed she did have such a petition… to increase Skytrain security. lol. Sure, I’d be willing to sign it, it doesn’t take anything away from me. So she asked if she could come in and I was like, “uh, sure… don’t mind the mess”
Sometimes I wish I were a clean freak because that compulsion at least has benefits.
So she came in and said, “actually your place isn’t that bad - I enter homes all the time and some places are scary”. Dude, just entering stranger’s homes is scary!
I asked if she did this on a volunteer basis, she said no, it’s her actual job. I wonder if she fears for *her* safety.
When I began telling Sam later about this chick entering my home to get me to sign a petition, he was like, “are you sure she wasn’t just casing the joint? You got your Wii, 360, laptop…” and I kinda laughed cause that didn’t occur to me at all and really seems ridiculous. Maybe if I lived in a house I could see that, but on the 10th floor of an apartment building, even if someone did get in my place to see what I have, I’d like to see them try to rob me. Especially now, I’m home all the time. (Although Chance raised a good question in wondering how she got into our building, ha.)
Along the same vein, the last time Wayne was at my place he killed 2 spiders (*ick*) and when he stepped out on my patio to get rid of their squished bodies he noticed that my sliding door is essentially backwards - the sliding part is on the outside, which means I can’t put a stick in-between the door and the wall to prevent someone from opening it even if it was unlocked. He said that someone could just take off the door from the outside and the installers must have been idiots.
I said, “well I guess they don’t think there are that many cat burglars around here.” 10th floor, people. I carried on, “and I’m pretty sure I’d notice someone trying to get in before they actually got in.”
So anyways, I sit down with this girl and she’s admiring my Super Mario Bros coasters while telling me about the organization she works for - ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now). They’re basically focused on “better housing for first time tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and regulation of payday lenders”.
They have an office a few blocks from me that I’ve never noticed and am not sure how long it’s been there. Their members meet once a month to vote on which issue they will focus on for the month, and what actions to take on that issue. Membership is $10 a month and the only difference between a member and non-member is that non-members can’t vote (although they can still participate in discussions and whatever actions). She had a little form handy for signing up, for your bank information to automatically deduct from your account each month - I said that I’d rather learn more about ACORN before becoming a member.
I told her it was kind of a weird coincidence because just a few days before I was talking with someone who said that it’d be nice if there was something that atheists could join to have a sense of community and to help out the community.
You know, why are the majority of free soup kitchens run by churches and other religious institutions? Atheists and non-practicing spiritual people have the same morales and want to help others as much as bible thumpers, it just doesn’t seem like there are any existing organizations to join to do just that. (Or if there are, like ACORN, they’re evidently not that much in the public eye.)
I said that was a good point, but why does one need to be a member of an organization… there are tons of volunteer opportunities out there. I know of at least 2 websites dedicated to just matching up volunteers with organizations in need. He said he’s looking for the community aspect of it - to feel like you belong to something. He believes that a lot of church-goers just go to church for that “I’m part of something” feeling, which I have to agree with - I truly see organized religion as a crutch that a lot of weak-minded people need.
Not that I want to make this about religion, and not that I see organized religion as a bad thing (as long as they’re not hypocritical and aren’t forgetting “love thy neighbour”) — if people get positive things out of being part of a church, that’s great and wonderful. Just don’t shove it down my throat and don’t try to tell me to change how I live.
Back on topic once more, life is weird like that with small coincidences (insert joke about possible God here) - someone I know mentions he wants such an organization and I agree it’s a good idea and bam, a few days later they come knockin on my door. Crazy. And when we were talking about it, I asked how he would draw people in - what would be their reason for joining? He said he wasn’t sure as he hasn’t thought about it too much.
But here, with ACORN, and as with most things, it’s common interests or a common goal - we as a community want increased security on the Skytrain line because we don’t think it’s fair that older ladies don’t take the Skytrain after dark, or don’t take it at all and instead wait for someone to give them a ride somewhere. We live in a free, prosperous society and shouldn’t have to view riding public transit as a safety risk, no matter how small.
So, I will give ACORN a shot and I plan on attending their next meeting which is this Thursday at the New West library.
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