Community Watch Past And Future?

While at O’Banion’s Sunday, a conversation caused one of those “sparks” that brought back a memory from childhood, and has caused some contemplation given this story and other current events. Thank goodness the girl was recovered safe and sound, as it seems to rarely happen that way.

Sunday, the Bartender was expounding forth (not an unusual occurrence), this time on the concept of community in terms of church and neighborhood. I found it interesting that we had similar paths, a decade or three apart, given that I’m a Georgia Boy and he’s a Yankee (grin). His parents had moved from downtown Indianapolis to the suburban wilds of Greenwood (which was not the boom area it is today). My parents did something similar in the early 1960s, moving out of old Macon and into suburbs that literally pushed up against woodlands.

Turns out, we both were free-range kids growing up. Our parents let us out and we got with other kids, explored, played, and did a lot of things that children today are deliberately denied. We walked to the nearby school, we rode bikes all over, all without our parents breathlessly tagging along. Which is not to say we were unsupervised. You and your parents knew the families around you, both on your street and pretty much a street on either side. Now, two streets over was starting to be terra incognita, and on one side that second street over butted up against acres of woods.

So, various mothers kept a watchful eye out and made sure we knew their hose was available so we could stay hydrated. A couple of the nicer ones even offered cookies and snacks (often homemade) on occasion. The moms kept in touch and as such had a rough idea where different groups of kids were and what they were doing.

Then one day, reality intruded. A man tried to snatch a little girl into his car. Kids were yanked into random homes until they could be gotten home or closer to home if they were latchkey. Given the attempt, all kids would be with adults until a parent or parents were home.

Today, I know that some of those moms who came out and got everyone inside were armed. While it was never officially confirmed, it sure did look like a number of dads left work and were driving around as well. Police and sheriffs, who we rarely saw, were out in force as well. The woods were off-limits for a week or three after that, and a much closer eye kept on what little play did happen for a while. Don’t know about the girls, but a number of boys got their first Boy Scout or other knife, or got a new and better one about that time.

The largest threat of such things has always been the creature hiding in the extended family or neighborhood, holding up a fair face to the world to hide the corruption beneath. But kidnapping by a random stranger hits a note that the first one does not. We never were quite as free to free-range after that, but it was still far better than today.

To be honest, Scouting provided a chance to do some of what was taken away via camping and hiking trips. Sad to say, one place we camped and liked we never went to again as it turns out the gunfire we heard breakout at one point was a serial killer taking out a family.

Thing is, both in the recent event and in the one from my past, communities came together. People looked out, looked after each other, and pooled resources. The police got information and tips, and along with some luck and a lot of work, a little girl was ultimately safe in both cases.

Given the deliberate assault on public safety by activist prosecutors and judges, communities are going to have to come together again for safety. It won’t be allowed in the targeted (mostly blue) cities, as those activist prosecutors and judges will be throwing the book at anyone fighting back. But, outside of those areas that have been targeted, it can and will work. Think about it, and it’s a good idea to know your neighbors.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.