I think I'm a fake liberal.

Anyone who's spent a goodly amount of time around here knows that my politics lean pretty far to the left. I'm even pretty socially liberal. Or am I? My social liberalism has recently been tested by a situation in our neighborhood. I'm a fake. A sham. A freakin' NIMBY, for pity's sake!

We live in a nice, established neighborhood. The houses were all built 20 or more years ago; there are a few families with kids, but not a lot. Often, we leave our front door and our cars unlocked. It's usually pretty quiet, despite our across-the-street neighbor, who is a lawyer with an obnoxious, drunken twentysomething-year-old son.

Long story slightly shorter is this: We have relatively new neighbors with a young son (hereafter called "K.") who has begun taking liberties with other people's boundaries. In the span of a week, he's taken toys that don't belong to him; walked into our fenced-in backyard & jumped into our pool after being told he could not, as adults were not home; walked into our unlocked front door when no one answered the doorbell; walked into another neighbor's unlocked front door under the same circumstances; gotten into yet another neighbor's vehicle uninvited; and hauled out our garden hose to play with on several occasions. He does not leave when asked or directed, even by an adult.

Here's where my fake liberalism shows up. Through the grapevine, I've heard that a local church is buying and/or renting houses in town, then setting up underprivileged families in them, sometimes even putting a couple of families together in a larger house. This is how K. and his extended family (I've seen at least five different cars in the driveway) allegedly came to live in this house. A truly liberal person would think that this is a fine charitable thing that the church is doing to help the lower class families in town to get up on their feet to make a better life for themselves. Is that what I'm thinking? Well, yes. But, I'm also thinking that maybe it's not so wise to scoop someone up out of the 'hood and dump them, ever-so-benevolently, in a 4000-square-foot house in a quiet neighborhood with obviously very different expectations than the ones they seem to be accustomed.

I soothe my wounded progressive pride by telling myself it's a good thing we're not hard-core Second-Amendment-or-bust types, or K. might be pulling some buckshot out of his ass right about now.

Comments

[RedMolly]

OK, this is a situation that would test my liberalism, too. But I'm coming from the perspective of having grown up "poor but proud," with parents who expected impeccable manners and civilized behavior at all times. Low income is no excuse for trashy behavior (and neither is high income... are you listening, Paris Hilton?).

That said... has anyone talked to the boy's parents? Not from a "keep your damn kid out of my yard" perspective, but from a "we're worried about his safety" perspective? I would think that if an attempt were made to welcome them to the neighborhood and make them feel as if they belong, they might in return realize that they should control their little guy for the sake of peaceful neighborhood relations.

And I don't think it's necessarily a fine and liberal thing the church is doing here. If they were really thinking through the consequences of relocating underprivileged families into established neighborhoods, they would not be letting the family sink or swim in this way. They would be working with the family to make sure they were taking care of the property, attending job training, playing well with others, etc.... you know, working on all those skills that are needed to transform a handout into a hand up. Typical faith-based mushy no-thought-required charity, if you ask me... *evil snicker*

[mary]

There is a child up the street that was doing the same thing with us. He has some "issues" though. I feel for you. I'm aghast at a "couple" of families living in a house. You should check deed/county restrictions on that one. That is just trouble. This "child" could hurt himself in your home and guess what! You are liable. Not him, not his parents. Good luck.

Hey that book Manic over there looks good.

[Blue Like the Sky]

I'm with you and Molly both on this one!

You must email or call me IMMEDIATELY with the dish on which of our "well meaning" local "houses of worship" is up to this one. I'd like to see if my suspicion is correct.

[Lori V.]

Thanks for the words of support, gals. I think several of the neighbors intend to go to the next City Council meeting to approach the situation (since it is zoned Single Family and there are at least three families represented in the house).

Karen, 'Manic' is a wonderful book; I would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to understand bipolar a little better.

[Jan]

I stopped by for the Photo Hunt, and thought I'd stroll around. This post really struck me. I am also a liberal, but your feelings have nothing to do with liberalism vs. conservatism, they have to do with property rights, ownership and respect. I grew up on the poor side of town, but I really never knew we had less than others, because of the way we were raised. We were raised with respect, and taught to respect our family, community and the laws and mores of society.

What you're dealing with are thugs. He's young but he's getting it from somewhere, probably being raised by thugs.