New York City doesn't pretend to be inviting,
congenial, or peaceful; but it's always a bit disconcerting to see something
there that reflects so plainly the ways in which the inhabitants of this city
make manifest their aggressive, intolerant, and irreverent attitudes. In all
the beauty that arises from its magnificent grandeur and all the depth that
it reflects through its cultural diversity, the city has a propensity to turn
a cold shoulder in the most unnerving ways. For example: when an otherwise potentially
comfortable seating surface is turned into a type of Medieval torture device.
The unwritten message is, "please no loitering", but New York City isn't prone
to expressing such niceties.
The lengths to which New York
City goes to make you feel uncomfortable.
