Urban Hymns

Andrew Sullivan is a well-known blogger who embodies a mystifying contradiction. He’s a conservative, Catholic, gay man; a combination of characteristics that must leave one feeling deeply conflicted. But I’m intrigued by a recent column he wrote for the Times of London. He observed that the familiar white iPod wires dangling from a person’s ears are becoming a ubiquitous sight on sidewalks, subways, airplanes, cafés, etc. His point is that we are cocooning ourselves in a portable shell of sound and distraction, shielding ourselves from the unexpected encounters and discoveries that used to be an integral part of urban existence. Things like a chance encounter with a stranger or overhearing a snippet of music that you might not normally choose for yourself. I was walking through the skyway the other day and I suddenly noticed all the people who were walking with a cell phone glued to their ears. It’s like we’ve become a nation of hyperactives. It’s no longer acceptable simply to be walking somewhere; we have to be walking and doing something else at the same time.
Even though I own an iPod, I don’t wear it when I’m walking around. Couple reasons for that. First, I want to be able to communicate in case I need something. Second, I think it would be kind of rude to the person accompanying me. And besides, I’m well aware of my own isolating tendencies. I know I spend way too much time in front of the computer. That’s why I try to make a point to get out and listen to the madding crowd. Unfortunately, I can’t do much of that now when the temperature is below freezing and snow drifts block every other curb cut. But when spring finally does return, I’ll be hitting the streets with my ears wide open.