Classical Failings

I had the desire to listen to classical music yesterday. I listened to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and just simply listened. I had a teacher in college who taught me the finer points of truly appreciating what an orchestra does to achieve that perfect sound. It really transcends all facets of music. If you have great musicians, you have a great sound; if you have bad musicians, well…

I got to ride my bicycle from around AT & T Park in San Francisco out to Sausalito on Friday. I haven’t rode in about a month and it was great. I was climbing the hill at The Presidio when Moody Blue’s “Tuesday Afternoon” came on my iPod. The lyrics go something like this:
Tuesday afternoon,
I’m just beginning to see, now I’m on my way
It doesn’t matter to me, chasing the clouds away.

Tuesday, afternoon,
I’m just beginning to see, now I’m on my way.
It doesn’t matter to me, chasing the clouds away.
Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near, I’ve got to find out why?
Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh.

It was funny because I have always used faster music, i.e. punk or metal, to get me motivated. I was listening to the intro on that sound and just felt a burst of energy as I started my climb. It was an interesting experiment. I usually turn around after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. I wanted to climb up to Marin Headlands, but the wind was too strong so I decided to head out to Sausalito. I cheated and took the ferry back to San Francisco once I got there. It was fun to get back on a boat and I have a feeling that I may be seeing a lot of water in the coming months.

The music that came up on shuffle as I was crossing the bay was pretty funny. It went something like this:

Switchfoot “Home,” Siouxsie and the Banshees “Christine,” Prince “Do Me, Baby,” Toni Basil “Mickey,” and Jeff Buckley “Grace.”

I went out with my friend, Darcy, to go check out an exhibit in Oakland yesterday. I had an experience in tolerance yesterday that I will not soon forget.

I was at the bus stop looking at a map for directions. A man made a comment not to crowd him. I simply explained that I was trying to look at the map and would be out of his space in a second. I understand what it feels like when someone is crouching in on your space. He started to hurl some insults my way and I simply ignored him. As I was walking away, he made another comment and I turned around. It was immediately then that I saw what others have seen in me before – anger. I proceeded to walk over and ask him why. Why did he feel it was necessary to insult me. Why he felt that he needed to take all his frustrations of the world out on me. I explained to him that I understood what he was feeling and that I was not to one to blame. We then exchanged a dollar for a hug. He apologized and we both went about our ways.

I have debated about whether I wanted to write what I am about to right here since I began typing that last paragraph. The heart of the issue in speaking with that man was about race. You see, he was black; I am mostly Mexican passing as a white. Bottom line: he saw me as whitey.

I have listened to all struggles when it comes to racial issues, as well as social issues. I also no first had what it is like to struggle to get by. I know what it is like to be turned down for a job. The color of my skin does not predispose me to a better life. Do I sometimes have a “leg up” on other races because the color of my skin? Sure, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t understand what it is like for someone to be hassled by the police or being turned down for a job. I listened to friends tell me about these issues on almost a daily basis. To say I turn a blind eye to others’ struggles because of the color of my skin is foolish.

I heard someone say a few days ago that we are one race – the human race. I realize that I may never see that perfect world in my lifetime. I have seen tremendous strides towards equalities and pray that we as a society open our eyes a little more to the atrocities that occur in this world on a daily basis. Little Mr. and Mrs. Suburban Dwellers can focus on themselves for all I care. I know that there are people in this world who actually give a damn about their fellow human beings. We are on the cusp of exercising knowledge of not only one’s self, but others as well. I sure hope we don’t blow it.