Through The Eyes Of Simon

I just lifted my head from a constitutional law practice test. Just for a second, foraging for the doctrine of abstention, and it hit me. Odd what you take notice of, while staring out of a library window.

They were just sitting there. You know, the way buildings do. All expressionless and what have ya. Two subdivisions. One, furthest to the west, a bit older, needing paint jobs, maybe a lawn or two needing some attention, modest in size and not covenant controlled--a multitude of RV's reside here. The other, further east, professionally constructed landscapes, covenant controlled--definitely, fresh paint jobs, and enormous.I bullshit you not, it has white picket fences. Even more striking than the contrasting house sizes and its Stepford Wives ambience, a commercial district is being constructed in the middle of the two subdivisions. Currently, it's mostly underdeveloped open space. But that's not all I noticed as I drove through the respective lots, in the early afternoon.

As I drove through the more modest lot, I took notice of the lawns and RV parking--as I mentioned--but I also noticed the people. Some were sitting on their porches. Some retrieving the mail. A woman was playing catch with her daughter. A Subaru--not an uncommon sighting in Colorado, to be sure--with a bumper sticker that read, "Thinking is patriotic," and an American flag was the centerpiece of the sticker. More striking, despite my extensive meandering, I didn't see any realtor signs. Doesn't seem like people are eager to, or must, move out of this neighborhood.

In contrast, in the more affluent area, I saw Cathedral entry ways, European cars in the driveways, three and four-stall garages, and no people. But plenty of realtor signs. People were leaving this area.

Difficult to know what to make of the realtor signs, other than some people get themselves in over their heads and others don't. Some people drank the Kool-Aid (read: believed the bullshit about the economy getting better) and others didn't. But the monument of commercialism being raised between the subdivisions tells part of the American story, to me.

We live in a society that is divided, not only along racial lines, but, also, socioeconomic class lines. The assumption that you are the sum of your possessions inures. You are your wallet. Congratulations.