Train of Thought

Observations on a Subway Ride


"Never ignore a shoe craving"

The Washington Metro offers a window into the culture of the city. All subways do. I still recall a trip into St. Louis where the ads for the casinos where all over the train. Soon I noticed the public service ads for the gambling addiction hotline. This week I had to go downtown so I noticed these two signs. The first states: "never ignore a shoe craving." Advertising is always great at 'creating a need.' I thought of Nehemia and the proverb about the undisciplined man being like a city without walls. On the return trip I saw the publc service ad for free HIV medication. How sad that our public messages seem to shout at life from the edges.


Ad for free medication

How sad it is that we're brilliant when we gratify our desires, heroic when we care for the victims of plague, but 'intolerant' when we suggest that there may be old wisdom that would actually guide our lives. Something to think about.