you can not choose your
relatives, they just “come with”
like “soup or salad”
the same holds true for
your neighbors, they just “come with”
the neighborhood – but,
wouldn’t it be nice
if we could choose our neighbors?
know what I would do?
I would carefully
select only those who live
by the Golden Rule,
get your permission
first, then park in your driveway,
and maintain quiet
on weekday evenings,
save your mail, water your plants,
keep an eye out for
loitering strangers
when you are on vacation,
return borrowed things,
keep your housekey for
repairmen when you’re not home,
shop when you are ill,
listen to your gripes,
donate to your charities . . .
reciprocal things
that you would do for
them – in other words, neighbors
just like you and me
you say it’s too bland
making a neighborhood that
homogeneous
where’s the spark, the fire
the differing points of view
that forge consensus?
the raw exchange of
honestly held ideas
other than your own?
the interactions
between divergent cultures
that help all to grow?
sharing holiday
traditions with each other
eating ethnic foods?
taking lots of Tums
supporting a good cause at
neighborhood picnics?
maybe you are right
there is a lot to be said
for diversity
the melting pot made
our country unique among
all other nations
I think I’ll accept
my neighbors, warts and all, and
teach them how to be
the perfect neighbor
by setting an example,
I owe them that much
Ray Singer
