Scenes from Coney Island, part V of V

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Okay, I've told you all about Coney Island – or enough, anyway – to give you a pretty good idea of the banality of the human condition.  Thing is, humans aren't limited to that sort of behavior.  A certain few can rise above that, and do things that are - in one way or another – great.

Greatness, of course, comes in many shapes and sizes.  From individual heroics demonstrated by people like John Luther Jones, to people who do amazing things such as the Apollo program, or even just your garden variety single mother who works her ass off trying to properly raise 3 kids.  A person that won't tolerate bigotry quietly, or all of these OWS spags running around raising hell because the system they live in is sick to the core.  That sort of thing.

Everyone has a natural inclination to get on the bus to Coney Island.  Every person has in them the innate pettiness and banal evil to fit right in, if they allow it.  The difference between the people who DO get on the bus and the people that DON'T get on the bus is simply a matter of personal courage.

Who hasn't ever been in a situation, for example, where someone was marginalized for being Black, or Gay, or something similar?  Did you speak up?  A simple "I don't want to hear that bullshit" is all it takes to stay off the bus.  Few people will ever have to physically endanger themselves for the sake of another...But if that happened, would you stand up and intervene, or would you pretend not to see it?

Sitting idly by while someone is abused – or worse, joining in – is a ticket to Coney Island.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that you can leave Coney Island anytime you want, just by getting up on your hind legs now, even if you didn't do it before.  The past is dead, it's what you do TODAY that matters...Because you only get one life, and the ride is shorter than you'd believe.  For all you know, there might not BE a tomorrow.  So you live for today, IN today, and you do what's right.

Or get on the bus.

Or Kill Me.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I needed this today. Not many people stay off the bus, but a few do, and that counts.

Thanks for writing it, Roger.

[Luna]

Thanks, Roger.  Good timing.

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

I like to think that I don't ride the bus.  But then again, I have a lot of where my ideals are higher than my end of the line actions.  I think we all have those situations, or it may just be me.  

This series has given me a lot to think about.

I really enjoyed it even if it is making me take a closer look at things I really don't want to!!  

[Precious Moments Zalgo]

Sometimes I'll speak up, but I don't always.  Sometimes I don't say anything, because it's so much easier just to pretend I didn't hear it.

I'll start making a point of not standing for that shit.

[East Coast Hustle]

This whole series was excellent, even if the positive ending is not what I'm used to.

Even though I'm quite secure in where my moral compass lies, it's always good to be reminded not to get complacent about that.

[Kai]

I've just read all of this, and I think it's just excellent (all five parts). But I have one question:

Is Aini really a Coney Island freak now?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Sometimes I'll speak up, but I don't always.  Sometimes I don't say anything, because it's so much easier just to pretend I didn't hear it.

I'll start making a point of not standing for that shit.

The person who speaks up is usually treated like an asshole.

So it helps to decide you like being the asshole.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Sometimes I'll speak up, but I don't always.  Sometimes I don't say anything, because it's so much easier just to pretend I didn't hear it.

I'll start making a point of not standing for that shit.

The person who speaks up is usually treated like an asshole.

So it helps to decide you like being the asshole.

This! I'm known and noted for being a complete cunt. I won't get sucked into your pathetic little social games. I'm the one lobbing bricks at your bus windows as it trundles past. I'm not on some moral crusade (couldn't give a fuck for morality) and it's not a matter of principle (I have none) No, it's simply because those vacant faces look much funnier with broken glass sticking out them.

[East Coast Hustle]

Sometimes I'll speak up, but I don't always.  Sometimes I don't say anything, because it's so much easier just to pretend I didn't hear it.

I'll start making a point of not standing for that shit.

The person who speaks up is usually treated like an asshole.

So it helps to decide you like being the asshole.

Admittedly, this has as much to do with how I conduct myself in such situations as my sense of morality and justice does.

I've just read all of this, and I think it's just excellent (all five parts). But I have one question:

Is Aini really a Coney Island freak now?

Yep. Or was for a while anyway, don't know about currently. But that's really the best thing you can say about him anyway. The only thing worse than a racist is someone who clings to their virulent racism after intentionally putting themselves on the fringes of society and KNOWING how it feels to be ostracized for your physical appearance.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Sometimes I'll speak up, but I don't always.  Sometimes I don't say anything, because it's so much easier just to pretend I didn't hear it.

I'll start making a point of not standing for that shit.

The person who speaks up is usually treated like an asshole.

So it helps to decide you like being the asshole.

Admittedly, this has as much to do with how I conduct myself in such situations as my sense of morality and justice does.

I've just read all of this, and I think it's just excellent (all five parts). But I have one question:

Is Aini really a Coney Island freak now?

Yep. Or was for a while anyway, don't know about currently. But that's really the best thing you can say about him anyway. The only thing worse than a racist is someone who clings to their virulent racism after intentionally putting themselves on the fringes of society and KNOWING how it feels to be ostracized for your physical appearance.

Still is, as of 2 months ago.  Time has not been kind to the boy, incidentally.

And it turns out his stories of being raped were all bullshit.  He just plain hates Black people.

[hooplala]

Sometimes I'll speak up, but I don't always.  Sometimes I don't say anything, because it's so much easier just to pretend I didn't hear it.

I'll start making a point of not standing for that shit.

The person who speaks up is usually treated like an asshole.

So it helps to decide you like being the asshole.

Admittedly, this has as much to do with how I conduct myself in such situations as my sense of morality and justice does.

I've just read all of this, and I think it's just excellent (all five parts). But I have one question:

Is Aini really a Coney Island freak now?

Yep. Or was for a while anyway, don't know about currently. But that's really the best thing you can say about him anyway. The only thing worse than a racist is someone who clings to their virulent racism after intentionally putting themselves on the fringes of society and KNOWING how it feels to be ostracized for your physical appearance.

Still is, as of 2 months ago.  Time has not been kind to the boy, incidentally.

And it turns out his stories of being raped were all bullshit.  He just plain hates Black people.

Never saw that coming.

Just in case Aini ever searches for its own name on here... hi Aini, fuck yourself in the neck.  I still hate your motherfucking guts. 

[East Coast Hustle]

Re-jacking the thread away from Aini...

Dok, do you have any advice for those of us who are reasonably certain the we personally are doing the right things in those situations but wish to influence others in that direction who have their hearts in the right place but lack the intestinal fortitude to translate that into actions?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Re-jacking the thread away from Aini...

Dok, do you have any advice for those of us who are reasonably certain the we personally are doing the right things in those situations but wish to influence others in that direction who have their hearts in the right place but lack the intestinal fortitude to translate that into actions?

In the words of the Late, Great Turd Ferguson, tell 'em to sack up.  Seriously.  Peer pressure works both ways.

[LMNO]

Loved the ending of this series.  To me, it sheds a deeper light on parts I-IV. 

Sometimes, I think I'm on the bus, licking the windows.  But thankfully, that... thing... in my gut has never let me stay on board for too long.  There's something of -- I don't know.  I want to say "joy", in the way that D Boon of the Minutemen meant it: The experience of being alive, here, now.  I AM HERE, AND I AM NOW.

Thanks again, Rog.