Whenever possible and practical, it makes sense to support local shops and restaurants. While there are certainly any number of out-of-state or internationally owned businesses that do good things here in our town, the biggest and most vociferous advocates for our communities are ordinarily those that are home-grown. Pfizer may sell a ton of its pharmaceuticals in central Indiana, but it was Eli Lilly & Company that threw its support behind our Super Bowl effort. Pfizer is likely helping get the big game to be slated in New York where its HQ is based. But, I also like the fact that local businesses are often smaller and closer to the intent of the original founders. They are more able to adapt to local influence and standards. And, they are much more likely to deliver a unique and distinctly regional attitude.
In visiting one such indigenous establishment, I found myself in line behind an affable enough group of twenty somethings. Wearing neckties and white shirts, they were clean cut and polite in their demeanor. Yet as they passed and I approached the counter to greet the proprietor, I found him looking over my shoulder to keep an eye on these young men as they continued to peruse the merchandise. “Did you see the tats,” he asked. Indeed, I had notice that one of the youngers had an indecipherable tattoo emerging from his collar just below his ear on the left nape of his neck.
Did it mean that he was likely going to rob the joint? Probably not. But it did remind me that how we chose to communicate our individuality necessarily carries with it a number of messages that may be unintended and even undesired. Just as we have a right to express, do others have a right to judge?
In visiting one such indigenous establishment, I found myself in line behind an affable enough group of twenty somethings. Wearing neckties and white shirts, they were clean cut and polite in their demeanor. Yet as they passed and I approached the counter to greet the proprietor, I found him looking over my shoulder to keep an eye on these young men as they continued to peruse the merchandise. “Did you see the tats,” he asked. Indeed, I had notice that one of the youngers had an indecipherable tattoo emerging from his collar just below his ear on the left nape of his neck.
Did it mean that he was likely going to rob the joint? Probably not. But it did remind me that how we chose to communicate our individuality necessarily carries with it a number of messages that may be unintended and even undesired. Just as we have a right to express, do others have a right to judge?
This column was
published on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 in the Current in Carmel, Current in Westfield,
Current in Fishers and Current in Noblesville - http://youarecurrent.com/
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