Good neighbors, bad neighbors

When I was in law school, (briefly) (long story - don't go there) (as in don't ask, not as in don't go to law school) (although that particular one was subpar (if you ask me), I got into a little conflict with one of my neighbors. I find it eluminating in light of the (wrong) Iraq war.

I lived in a little studio apartment on the second floor and below me was a preem medical student from India named Arun. Now, keep in mind here that Arun was not perfect (by our (Western) standards) downstairs neighbor either, anymore than I was. (Upstairs). Many's a time where, I would be up at 3-4 A.M. kept awake by his stereo ("I Got The Power" - C&C Music Factory - his favorite) or by him talking LOUDLY to family back home in India in native language Hindy (Note: as many ignorant Americans (Neandertheals) not realize - language spoken by Indians (from India) not Indian, language spoken by Indians Hindy). At first I got frustrate - But, I would always tell myself, He is from a different culture and I must be tolerant. If I cannot tolerant his culture at 4 A.M> then where does that leave us. (I would have to apologize to him for being so intolerant, frankly). The true test of multi cultural tolerance occurs at 4 A.M. (Just a little aphorism I thought up - you can use it) So, I would switch on late nite Bob Costas show or Twilite Zone rerun and wait till his culture calms down (just, alittle).

Meanwhile, however, I offended him something greatly, for which still feel guilty. You see when I was (still) in law school (officially) I spent ALOT of time hackysacking. (In my apartment - no good place to do it outside). You know - for exercise. I would stand there and hackysack in front of TV to wile away the time and sweat. Day or night. (You're probably wondering was there enough space in studio apartment to hackysack - well there was (just barely) if I move E-Z chair and keep control (the secret: use your knees ALOT)). Well, I must of hackysacked through 90% of both OJ trials (if you ask me). (In retrospect-- probably would of been better to attend more lawschool classes. Water under the bridge as they say).

Now I guess Arun could hear this thumping on ceiling. At first probably I assumed that in his culture (diverse) such noises - normal. (Hustle and bustle of big Indian city - Multi cultural diverse people LOVE the noises/smells (i.e. excitement!) of big city)( I assumed). But apperently (from what I could piece together) he "has to study for MCAT" or whatever bla bla bla (I admit, did not understaned his diverse accent too well. Mostly gazed at his cloths (VERY stylish dresser)

So I had offended him - my downstairs neighbor. I had overstepped the bounds of good neighborship. I had crossed the line. I recognize that (now). But at the time I didn't realize.

So Arun (wise) - here's what he did. Typed up note on word processor - slipped under my door. Something about "Dear Neighbor" can you stop that infernal racket / noisy behavior raucous and rude (some words - rather long) (diverse Indians have suprirsingly large English vocabulary) (I've noticed). Well that's the end of the story YOU KNOW WHY? Because I actually listened to his note and changed behavior accordingly. (I'm can be quite rather sensitive and compassionate to other peoples's needs, infact). I stopped indoor hackysack so much (for exercise switch to: night hikes) and Kept it down alittle. (New indoor hobby: making collages). Well soon enough I was out of there (lawschool) anyway so Arun got his peace and all's swell that ends well.

What does this have to do with our current predicament, youask?

We (are foreign policy) was bothering Arabs Muslims governments in the Middle East. NOT being good friendly neighbors (if you ask me), just like me with my indoor hackysacking. No. We were constraining their behavior / preventing various regimes from doing what they want to do/ expanding as they wish / arming to defend themselves / etc. In short: we offended them.

On 9/11 we received our "note" (like note Arun to me) asking (kindly, gently) (ok 3000+ kill (stock brokers mostly) to make point better) to stop our behavior. This was a chance (an opportunity) to make a mends by LISTENING (like I did, to polite note from C&C Music Factory fan) and changing are behavior accordingly as per all there wishes (ie. no American troops or citizens on Arabian peninsula anywhere/ dive vest from Israel completely,udderly / stop blockade of Iraq i.e. let Saddam trade with whomever however do/kill whatever he wishes / kick non Muslims out of Sudan / kick Russians out of Chechnya / kick Serbians out of Easter Europe / kick Indians out of Indian peninsula / etc.) Whatever - just good friendly neighbor behavior. This would of been civilized thing to do.

But instead - we made WAR on Muslims (something that should NEVER be happen - TOTALLY offensive to Muslims and against their religion). In Afghanistan (wrong enough - but that's beyond scope of this blog) but more improtantly to everything - In Iraq.

Keeping with neighbor analogy - This would of been like me reading Arun's note and then going downstairs with sword (like envisioned numbrous times) to chop off his DAMN HEAD for BLASTINGT that STUPID "I got the power" song at ALL HOURS OF THE FRICKIN NIGHT. WTF!!

And I'm too civilized for that. More improtantly: I'm too tolerant.

I'm a good neighbor. To Saddam, the US was a bad neighbor. And that's really just about all there is to it.

(So it seems my uncle was wrong - I guess I learned something from lawschool after all.)



(UPDATE 12/8/2004 10:33 P.M. ZULU mean time: Some have expressed skeptical - as in "how loud can hackysack be? soft little ball" You're missing the point - yes to kick hackysack rather soft (little soft beanbag). But it was the THUMPING on the floor (of my feet) (rather heavy) as I jump around (often making very dramatic saves - wish I had video camera to show!) which made the noise. Imagine pogo stick for perhaps better analogy - I hope this clears up better understanding, here of what my bad neighborliness consisted of (this is important for understanding 9.11 analogy appropriately)