LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Rude neighbors

Dear Editor: Whatever happened to: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” The Golden Rule? Or does this somehow not apply to the people of Downey?

When you have visitors over and play music so loud that it can be heard 4-6 houses away – in all directions – is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you have visitors over to your house and they are loudly hooting, hollering, and talking so that the neighbors can’t go to sleep until your visitors either pass out from drinking too much, or drive home in a drunken state of being, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you have 1-3 dogs running to your side gates and bark at everything that quietly goes by, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you have a dog that barks 50-200 times every day and startles several of your neighbors so badly that it feels like they have had literal heart attacks many times a day, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When your dogs bark so much that people are having nervous break downs, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you shoot off your fireworks and traumatize hundreds of dogs all at once is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you shoot off your fireworks and pollute our air, forcing us to breathe it, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you litter our streets (and your neighbors yards and pools) with your firework debris, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you ride a motorcycle that is so loud that it can be heard a 1/2-mile away (or even a 1/4 mile away) is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you uncaringly spit your gum on the sidewalks for others to step in, and also so that all of our storefronts are disgustingly littered with it, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you uncaringly throw your cigarette butts on our streets, our sidewalks, and even in our lawns, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you drive your cars with loud booming music that annoys everyone around you, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

When you leave your fast-food remnants in our streets and gutters, is this: “Doing unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

What kind of people have we devolved into, when so many selfishly, purposely, literally, and utterly ignore this simple principle?

Is it really that hard to care about how we effect others? Is it really that hard to be a whole lot more considerate towards others? Or are we really just a bunch of selfish people?

Is this the general make up of the people of Downey? It sure looks like it to me.

How does a world get better, when so many routinely behave in these uncaring ways?

Danny Wright Downey

**********

Published: Aug. 7, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 17