THE LOST MEANING OF COMMUNITY

WELCOME TO THE URBAN LIFE, WHERE THE NEIGHBOURS ONLY KNOW YOUR NAME

"I'd bet the neighbours know my name..." Trey Songz crooned. And this made me wonder as to how close were those houses that the neighbours would hear this name during such ... moments.
But is that so different to what really happens in Trinidad. But this isn't about proximity of houses. This is about the proximity of the people within them. Close enough that they are nearly living in the same yards but only know their neighbours names because they heard it being said by somebody else.

It is said that the East-West corridor is the most densely populated in the entire of Trinidad. This became rather apparent during the recent protest by the residents of Sea Lots. After waiting for too long for transportation near Mt. Hope Hospital, I was accosted by Carnival again with the streets flooded with people playing mas in work and school uniforms.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/gallery/photo-day-2013-02-26/commuter-woesjpg

It made me wonder just how many people indeed live along this corridor. The "urban" in Trinidad and Tobago is defined as 200 people living on a square kilometer. To me, that brings enough people into contact with each other. Yet, if you were to ask someone to tell you 5 facts about his/her nearest neighbour, you'd see confused expression. I've tried. 

Now, being wonderfully stuck in traffic, I made good use of my time and spied on those not so lucky ones who were still waiting to be picked up. And it occurred to me that the only people really talking to each other were the school-children. Maybe I am just really very backward and living in days gone before my time, but I found this rather strange. I have to wait on a bus every morning at 6.30 am. Now, my bus stop isn't very populated at that time of day but there are still 16 people who wait with me regularly every morning. I have spoken to everyone of them in passing conversations. Its just a matter of courtesy and passing time. And it has the added benefit of re-enforcing our sense of community. 

And this led me to a sad conclusion about the urban life ... the lost sense of community. 

The Private Future (Pawley, 1973) and Bowling Alone (Putnam, 2000) emphasizes the breakdown of community. This can only lead to the withdrawn and isolated individual.
Hall and Barrett (2012) expound on the relationship between lack of social cohesion within communities and social and cultural problems in urban areas. 

One might have expected that with the increase in the number of person living in one area, the binds of the community would have grown stronger. This now seems to be an inverse relationship. 

It is disheartening to know that the only time urban communities seem to come together is in the face of tragedy or perceived mistreatment to burn tires and protest and use the opportunity to ignite strife instead of building bonds between themselves to prevent the same from happening again. 

Community watches keep springing up in every area, but the "watchmen" are security guards from a hired firm from an entirely different area. How come the community itself isn't looking after its own needs together? 

Source: www.police.belleville.on.ca

The urban community needs to get up, shape up and think about the place they occupy and the people they share it with. The decline of the local territorial community as meaningful symbolic unit must be stopped and reversed. Once the primary social relationship and functional institutions have been eroded, the local area would be transformed from a symbolic place to just occupied physical space.

So think about what the community is supposed to mean. A common ground where people interact, enjoy each other's company and grow as a unit fostering togetherness and companionship. Maybe if communities acted more like one instead of each house a bubble, isolated from the next, social change and revitalization will take place as each person will now have a sense of place and belonging. 

Don't just stand, hand over eyes, Ipod in ears and as far away from the people around you. You and I both know you'd be waiting for a maxi for a while. So how about striking a little conversation with your fellowman. 

(Taken on Curepe Junction)

Always remember:

A gracious word may smooth the way, 

A joyous word may light the day.

A timely word may lessen stress,

A loving word may heal and bless.

It's time to reform and revitalize our urban spaces starting with our urban communities!

Sources:

www.police.belleville.on.ca

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2094194?uid=3739200&uid=2134&uid=4578374707&uid=4578374697&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=60&sid=21101999997467

http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/trinidad-and-tobago/urban-population

http://watchourwords.org/

guardian.co.tt
Urban Geography by Tim Hall and Heather Barrett (2012)