Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in January of 2003. Mattie was 9 months old. We took him to Roosevelt Island that weekend and he was shown here in his favorite mode of transportation. On Peter's back! Mattie disliked being in a stroller. But I did not realize that at first and therefore we must have purchased at least three different types of strollers in hopes that one would work. The lesson I learned from this was that it was important to follow Mattie's cues and he preferred sitting up high with his feet dangling. 


Quote of the day: We hope all danger may be overcome; but to conclude that no danger may ever arise would itself be extremely dangerous. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Today is Wednesday, and in a five day time span my neighborhood has had a suicide (on Friday), a homicide, and an armed robbery (yesterday). I attached links to the homicide and robbery that we found out about yesterday. We are used to hearing about crimes practically on the hour or by the minute, depending upon the way you consume your news. Yet when it is in your own backyard it does force you to stop and assess the danger that you live with and wonder..... how safe am I? All I know is our neighborhood has been changing drastically over the last ten years and unfortunately it is very hard for residents to get their voices and issues addressed. In some ways the individuals breaking the law have more rights than we do. 

This is Maslow's model that I remember being introduced to back in graduate school. It is an interesting pyramid of human needs. If you look at the base of the pyramid, you will notice the physiological level. This level highlights our most basic needs for.... food, water, shelter, etc. Without stability at this level, we can not possibly move up the pyramid and focus on higher order needs like respect for self and self-actualization.

I believe that the issues our community has been facing this week, cause all of us to pause. Or perhaps reflect and feel uncertain. Peter and I are already trying to find equilibrium post-holiday season and now we can add this additional uncertainty to our lives. Having seen Mattie undergo cancer treatment and then die, makes it hard for me to come to terms with what I am seeing around me this week. Which is a total disregard for human life. 


Southeast DC man charged in deadly stabbing outside Virginia Avenue church soup kitchen (homicide):
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/southeast-dc-man-charged-in-deadly-stabbing-outside-virginia-avenue-church-soup-kitchen

Armed Robbery:
https://www.ussp.us/persons-of-interest-in-armed-robbery-gun-800-b-o-new-hampshire-ave-nw-on-january-14-2020/