"The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work... when you go to church... when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth."
After nearly two days back in Philadelphia, I find the concept of the Matrix very relevant. (For those of you who haven't watched the Matrix, here's a link to a review and trailer for explanation/context: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/)
So many choices, options, and varieties within immediate reach.. it's incredible; just like the white room in which Neo chooses from massive stores of weapons or chooses skills to learn. Sipping tea and munching on crepes with family/friends didn't feel too weird, despite my body feeling as though it went through a steam roller. Later, I couldn't figure out why the short bus ride to work struck me so oddly... until I realized it was the first time in two weeks that I'd traveled anywhere independently, with complete freedom, safety, and comfort. Suddenly, the streets of Philadelphia seem incredibly clean without the ever-present red dust of Uganda, even in the city of Kampala.
But thankfully, my eyes and heart remained open in these last few days. Even if my current surroundings feel very similar to a Matrix experience, with Uganda as the real life.. it does not negate or discount the struggles and needs of the people here.
Two people who are well-known to our homeless outreach department died during the time I was gone. A relatively young woman passed away in her spot under a bridge in south Philadelphia - cause unknown, she was a quiet woman. The second is an older gentleman who stayed primarily in the train station with frequent trips to the hospital for health conditions and alcohol abuse.
More times than should occur after a mere two days returned, I looked in the eyes of men and women who expressed their frustration, anger, and distrust. Pain and hurt so evident... as though pressure building up against a damn. From every outward appearance these people seemed much better off than the men and women of Uganda. No complaints of joint pain, stomach/back ache indicating worms.. no chest or neck pain from too much lifting and difficult work.. no malnutrition or ringworm or malaria.. not even a great deal of aging. But their eyes gave away an equal pain and desperation.
With tears in his eyes, Fred at once begged for and stubbornly refused help with his severe alcohol addiction. Detox from extreme alcohol use is tremendously painful and dangerous. Continuing to use high levels of alcohol will eventually destroy all inner organs. Either way, the demons will still persist. The pain and hurt of rejection from his family/friends will gnaw at his heart, mind, and soul.
Generally survival occur seamlessly and with relative immediacy - delays are considered nuisances and try people's patience considerably. Mid-morning I slid quietly into a seat on the 2 bus in center city, headed home for a few hours. Less than a minute later I noticed a few passengers snickering and straining to watch an activity toward the front of the bus. A hugely oversized duffle bag lay in the middle of the bus isle, with another rolling suitcase leaning against the seat. The backside of a woman was visible as she quickly picked up items and stuffed them into a bag. Immediately I recognized the bags and woman... she spent the last evening and morning in the vicinity of my office - lugging bags to and fro, in order to keep the police appeased. She engaged with me long enough to request a cigarette and state she was too busy for housing.
After a few moments of struggle, with on-lookers laughing and expressing their amazement/frustration, the woman gains control of the bag's contents.. but instead of entering the bus, she throws everything out the open door. The bus drives away, with a driver's parting comment of amazement at witnessing such an action.
I don't have many comments on the last quote, but will simply share and leave it open for interpretation.
"You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."
No comments:
Post a Comment