One of my dreams, since I was a little girl, has been to see “the city that never sleeps”.  I would imagine the bright lights and tall buildings and constant sirens and hustle and bustle…

But the one thing that never touched my dream world was the complete lack of humanity New Yorkers display on occasion.

I’m not sure I want to go to New York City anymore.  I’ll certainly be calling 911 from a distance, rather than aiding someone in trouble if I do go, now.

Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax, a homeless man in Queens, was victim to New York’s lack of humanity after saving a woman who was attacked with a knife.  Hugo fell to the ground and lie dying on the sidewalk as more than twenty people walked around him, staring as they passed, and never lifting a finger to help him.  Two people stood beside him chatting.  A man came out of the store to take a picture with his cell phone.  Another person bent and shook him, but continued walking when he didn’t wake.

What’s confusing me the most is police were called to the area and claim to have seen nothing.  While I realize seeing a homeless man lying on the side of the road isn’t an unusual occurrence in New York City, do the police not even ask them to move along anymore?

Maybe the people who weren’t there when it happened can excuse it away by assuming someone called someone already.  Or that he was just passed out drunk.  Maybe.  I mean, he wasn’t moving at all, and he was laid on his face.

But the people who were there when it happened? The girl he saved?! Why did no one call anyone?

Is this what we’re coming to, America? A country so apathetic we don’t even care about the diamonds in the rough anymore?

I cried for Hugo, this morning.  And I cried for our humanity.  I hope you did, too.

I’d like to close my eyes, go numb
but there’s a cold wind coming from
the top of the highest high-rise today.
It’s not a breeze ’cause it blows hard.
Yes and it wants me to discard the humanity I know,
watch the warmth blow away.

So don’t let the world bring you down.
Not everyone here is that fucked up and cold.
Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you grow old.

So do you think I should adhere to that pressing new frontier?
And leave in my wake a trail of fear?
Or should I hold my head up high
and throw a wrench in spokes by
leaving the air behind me clear?

So don’t let the world bring you down.
Not everyone here is that fucked up and cold.
Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you go.

So don’t let the world bring you down.
Not everyone here is that fucked up and cold.
Remember why you came and while you’re alive
experience the warmth before you grow old.

Before you grow old.
Where did it go? (x4)