After the draft was disbanded I always thought those who volunteered to serve was very PATRIOTIC. Whose patriotism is most evident to you?

I have had good personal experiences with the police. As I've said before. I just got one lemon and he was a sourpuss but polite and fair. Some went way out of their way to help me. I've been lucky. But I AM A WHITE WOMAN. How black men and black women experience the police is very different. I have no PROOF that the police who treated me with such kindness and caring would do likewise if I were black. I cannot know what percent of cops are BAD APPLES. I do know there is a blue wall of silence where cops back up one another. Would a GOOD cop back up a bad one? I don't know what if he didn't there's be he** to pay. I don't thin much of the blue wall of silence. It seems to be that loyalty SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO TRUTH AND JUSTICE AND WHAT IS RIGHT. Not to other homo saps. Sigh. So that's how I feel L. Thank you for your reply and Happy Tuesday! :)

You have made some good points in support of your position.  I don't think either of us will ever know whether we would be treated the same way in any situation if we were Black.  You're right, there is no way to know how many of them are bad apples or how many good cops stick up for bad ones.  What I do know is that in dire situations, the police are the ones we call for help.  Let's hope that no matter our color, they will treat us equally.  Happy Monday. :)

I know I can count on them. I am still a white woman though older. But others of other color? I have no idea! Thank you for your reply L! :)

I think that where you live plays a big part in how people are treated.  In NYC, there are so may different cultures and people that it may be more even-handed.  

I wonder what ethnicities are NOT present in New York City L? Thank you for your reply m'dear! :) Under normal circumstances I think you're very lucky to be living there. But there are no longer normal anythings anywhere and I imagine seeing your city virtually shut down in so many areas must be so very sad. Is BROADWAY lit up at night? Is TIMES SQUARE going to be empty New Year's Eve? Will that Crystal Ball not do the countdown or will we be safe enough to do that? Will there be social distancing in Times Square this year on New Year's Eve? What you are used to seeing as "NORMAL" in your beloved city is MIA now. For how long?  It must be heartbreaking for you sweetie. Thank you for your reply L. :)

I believe the lights are all on in Times Square but I'm not sure about Broadway.  It's very sad to see so many things closed, but we are starting to open up again, if only at 25%, but it's better to go small and see how it works out than open up 100% and find a resurgence of the virus and then we're back to square one.  It's been very hard on small businesses, especially restaurants, but on September 30, the restaurants will be open for 25% indoor dining, which will help.  

Fingers crossed. What about New Year's Eve in Times Square? We watch it every year if we're awake. Year after year after year it's an American Tradition. First New Year's comes in down under in Australia and then it works its way around the globe till it gets to us. What is New Year's Eve without it? Ever lived through one? Thank you for your reply L. :) Just like the Boston Pops play on the Esplanade during the 4th of July and the 1812 overture is played and they use real cannons! Well Times Square on New Year's eve is a TRADITION. I'm making myself very sad. I will move on! :)

I have no idea how New Year's Eve will be celebrated in Times Square this year.  I suspect it will be different - certainly as far as the crowds are concerned.  No, I have never been to TS for NY Eve - I couldn't bear that many people around me.  

I always think of The 1812 Overture as the Puffed Wheat song. :)  I was in Charleston to celebrate New Year's Eve 1999 and usher in 2000.  My best friend's son was stationed at the Air Force Base and we all went down to celebrate with him.  He invited all of the airmen in his group who had no place else to go and we had a ball.  

So you're not a fan of being in crowds either then? What a lovely memory to have. Well this is new ground for everyone but more so for New Yorkers I'm pretty sure. Thank you for your thoughtful reply! :)

Well, we managed to get through 9/11. so I'm pretty sure  we'll get through this.  New Yorkers are nothing if not resilient.

You know that many folks died from what they went through on 9/11...the first responders in particular. Those who didn't die suffer even today. So in a way we will never be able to "get past" it. Yesterday 9/11/2020 seemed as if we were at 9/11/2001. My son was stuck in Paris and it took us days to get him home because all the planes were GROUNDED. Meanwhile we were all in a state of shock as to what attacks would come next? It all comes back that vividly every year for me...way far away from Ground Zero in California. Of course I watched the towers being attacked and going down. The first one was thought to be a TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. Until the next plane flew into the other tower and then we knew we were under attack. You in New York had to be beyond terrified. 19 years is long ago and also it is always yesterday. Sigh. Thank you for your reply L! :) This post was edited by RosieG at September 12, 2020 9:33 AM MDT

I remember that we didn't know how we were going to get home that day because they closed everything down after the second tower was hit.  People from the office were trying to walk across the 59th Street Bridge to get into Queens, but were turned away and had to come back to the office.  Some time later that day, they were allowing traffic to cross the bridge and a co-worker who lived in Brooklyn and drove to work offered me a ride because she had to go to Queens in order to get to Brooklyn where she lived, so she dropped me at my building.  I remember crossing the span and looking to my right and seeing this huge black ball of smoke in the air.  It was surreal and it took a long time for it to sink in.  September 11 was one of the ten best days New York has every year.  The sun was shining, the sky was this beautiful clear blue and then all hell broke loose.  The next day, I drove out to Jones Beach just to clear my head.  I stood on the boardwalk with others just looking out on the ocean.  There was a warship cruising up and down the coast and all I could think was how could such a horrible thing happen on such a gorgeous day.