Interaction

As we waken from post-911 paranoia, used by politicians with the help of the media to divide and conquer the people here in the U.S., social interaction in the public space may be the best antidote for the current overheated and exaggerated approach being taken in media and in Washington to the most basic issues. My daily walks in my new urban neighborhood present dozens of opportunities for basic human connection with my neighbors and other pedestrians.

What does it take to look up and smile into the eyes of an oncoming pedestrian? Does it really require courage or magnanimity? Hardly. It simply requires some effort and compassion in understanding that the reaction you may get has little to do with you as a whole person and more to do with that person's life condition. If you manage to connect and get a smile in return, you have succeeded in making that moment in human time more friendly and peaceful.

What is life but a collection of moments? I find working at making these moments open to positive human interaction supports my humanist ideals. By interacting with strangers in any circumstance with respect and acknowledgment, I feel less estranged and more proactively engaged in making the world a more peaceful and friendly place.