Dear Source:
I've been following the "Rudeness in Paradise" thread for a couple of days now because like 'Mark Simkiss' the subject is also of particular interest to me.
I was born and raised in St. Croix and now live in the DC Metropolitan area. With that said, until I came to this area had never experienced such rudeness and disregard as I experienced here! For example, when you ride the metro, people stare through you and if you offer a simple 'good morning' or 'good afternoon' as is the common practice in the islands, you are often looked at as if you are crazy or simply ignored. Maybe once in a blue moon and I must stress maybe, do you get a response. I must also note that I have asked others their opinion on my experience and I am not alone in this. I have asked people why they simply ignore others and do not offer greetings. What I have learned is that there is a lack of trust and need for self-preservation that exists that produces this behavior. I do not hold these actions against others, I simply move on. Life is too short to get entangled in matters as menial as this. I continue being polite and courteous to all, if people respond then that is wonderful. If people chose to ignore me, then it is simply their loss!
As for trash…hmm. This problem is a theme across many inner cities and some states – 'Paradise' as many call it is not immune to trash! When in St. Croix, on many occasions I have seen both tourist(s) and locals trash our island. I in return call out their actions and try to make a difference, but I am only one person. Overall as a community we must develop a strategy to address the issue of trash. Perhaps in the short term we can hire people to clean the streets on a daily basis – like they do in Monaco. In the long term – we must teach our youth why it is imperative to preserve the beauty of our surroundings and understand the impacts of their actions on the earth.
Belinda Jackson
Washington, D.C.
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