What I heard on the W Train (Mickey Z.)

[Tace]

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

Feb. 2, 2007 -- I'm standing on the crowded Lexington Avenue subway platform, waiting for either the N or W Train to take me off the island of Manhattan. A drone-like female voice booms over the loudspeaker: "Ladies and Gentlemen, pan-handling is against the law. Please do not give to law-breakers. Please give instead to charities that support those in need. Thank you."

I look around to check for reactions but I get nothing. Poker faces.

One might be excused for thinking the people on the platform did not even hear the announcement (those wearing iPod earphones surely haven't). We are being asked -- check that -- We're being told to not only view desperate humans as law-breakers but also to ignore them. No one flinches.

Let's rewind back to, say, 1973. If some sci-fi flick injected that exact pre-recorded spiel into a futuristic subway scene, we'd all have chuckled at the representation of such a callous -- and highly unlikely -- future.

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http://www.worldnewstrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=920&Itemid=9999

[NavyDavy]

1. yeah makes me sick at some of these laws....

[midnight]

2. Very interesting take on what I would call inhumane reaction.

My daughter was moved to tears today when in a English class was watching a Micheal Moore movie-Roger and Me. She was so overwhelmed by the desperate living conditions brought about by the collapse of Michigan's car industry. I hope she will always be sensitive to those in need.

[Tace]

3. Mickey's Still Got Some Compassion

That's one of the things I like about Mickey Z.