Little Things ARE Big

The story of Jesus Colon had a special meaning. It revolves around the small things that we think are indifferent but end up having a huge impact in your life. This little thing ended up changing Jesus Colon's idea of chivalry and courtesy.

Other people's points of view change ours because it surrounds us, everywhere we go. In Colon's case, Negroes aren't meant to be talking, let alone, helping white people. But, in his Puerto Rican side, he knew that helping the woman would be the absolute right thing to do. After heavy contemplation, he pushed past her, like nothing ever happened. At that point he, and even us listeners, realizes that he had done the wrong thing. She may have accepted his help but then again, she may have not.

What Do We Do with a Variation?

What do we do with a difference?

Do we stand and discuss its oddity

or do we ignore it?

Do we shut our eyes to it

or poke it with a stick?

Do we clobber it to death?

Do we move around it in rage

and enlist the rage of others?

Do we will it to go away?

Do we look at it in awe

or purely in wonderment?

Do we work for it to disappear?

Do we pass it stealthily

Or change route away from it?

Do we will it to become like ourselves?

What do we do with a difference?

Do we communicate to it,

let application acknowledge it

for barriers to fall down?

James Berry

This poem connects to Jesus Colon's story because it relates to Colon's situation. The lines that I bolded have a significant part in this poem. It states that when we find a difference, a change in our lives, we ignore it, we try to get away from it or take it away from us. The author, James Berry, is telling us that us humans, we see something, contemplate for a minute or two, or just plain stab at it. What I mean by this is that we have a way of communicating non-verbally, through our body language and facial expressions. For example: If we saw a homeless person on the streets, begging for money, holding out his/her ratty Styrofoam cup, their voice weak and fatigued, what do we do? We turn our backs to them, walk right past them, like no one is even there. At this point, we should realize that we must change our ways. We should try our best to help these people out. Now, we can’t just go out of our way and give these poor people homes and money. But what we can do is, at least give them a smile, to show that you care. Or, you could drop a few coins or bills into their cup, make them feel like that they are a part of our world. When we see these kind of people, we should go out of our usual habits and give them a little something, to make them feel cared, to make them belong. "Do we communicate to it, let application acknowledge it, for the barriers to fall downWe start building when we take our first ‘risks.’ The reason why I put risks in quotes is because they may not be enormous risks but they are chances to take, to make ourselves who we are. This is how we shape our identities.

This painting by Marcia Babler, 'Masked Identity', shows the woman with multiple 'personalities'. There is a mask and then many bodies behind her. It is showing that she cannot find her true self. This is like Jesus Colon's story because he decided that he would always be respectful & chivalrous, finding the personality that fit him best.

http://www.marciababler.com/