4TheRcrd Mag.

I found a used syringe by my family’s house in south Richmond today. It was sitting in the middle of a parking stall at Richlea Plaza (that’s #3^rd and Williams for those not familiar with Richmond.) I poked it with my foot in disbelief. This is the same area I used to run around barefoot when I was a child. OK, so running around barefoot in a parking lot in any decade is not the greatest stroke of brilliance, but I did it. We never locked the doors either. Now we have the full security onslaught, I’m picking up the gun turrets on Thursday.

I guess in writing this, I lament for the days gone by. I remember, Richmond, the clean quite suburb of the ever-progressive Vancouver; the Vancouver that was ahead of the world in all aspects of it’s proud society. Where has the positive progress gone? (2010 Winter Olympics, if you have been paying any attention, are not progress!) Where are the promises of a utopian society that puts people before corporations? Where are the caring communities, where is the fresh air and where is the love? When the Beatles told us “all you need is love,” we went to Wal-Mart and asked how much it would cost. Our capitalist society is being tested and it’s failing.

We need to get back to the grass roots. We need to learn how to care for each other as human beings again. We are not social insurance numbers that magically pay taxes to give Translink officials raises.

In essence, smile when children laugh, let your neighbour know how much you enjoy their garden and remember to safely dispose of your syringes. I don’t need to know what you use them for, unless you are wondering where the nearest Insite Facility is. Then, I respect your responsibility for your addiction and will gladly point you in the right direction.