Don't Make Eye Contact In Today's World

I've always enjoyed the great outdoors. When I was a kid, my dad and I would go for nice bike rides along the various bike paths of the city.

Some of my fondest memories growing up are riding with my dad through the parks, ravines and beaches of Toronto.

On sunny Sundays our travels took us through not just some of the most beautiful parks in the city, but also the most populated. Maybe it’s our long Canadian winter, or maybe it's just a sense of nature calling us, but on a lazy sun-drenched Sunday, these parks were packed with people.

Families would be walking slowly on the paths, soaking up the sun. Couples would be walking hand-in-hand, enjoying the romantic allure of nature. Kids would be playing ball, tag or other fun outdoor games, running free in the urban jungle.

As we slowly rode through the crowds, we'd smile and nod to those we passed by. They in turn would smile and nod hello back, some even saying 'hi' or commenting on how wonderful a day it was.

Time shift forward to today, and you'd swear you were entering a completely different world. People avoid eye contact at all costs. And if your eyes happen to meet, they are met with unwelcoming hostility instead of warmth.

I went for a walk in the park near my home the past couple of weekends. The weather was perfect -- sunny and warm. As in the past, the park was filled with others all enjoying the good weather.

Or were they?

They seemed to be enjoying themselves up until our paths crossed. Just as we past each other they would flash a look of hatred and anger my way, despite my warm smile.

Maybe I hadn't smiled at all -- I thought. Maybe it was my fault they showed displeasure at my presence?

As I continued my walk, I'd continue to smile and nod hello to others as I passed them. That's the Canadian thing to do. I noticed that the only people that were not responding positively back were those obviously not from around here.

Canadians warmly greeted me as I strode past. Others gave me the hairy eyeball, making me feel most unwelcome.

Perhaps, I thought, back in there country of origin no one made contact with others out of fear of repression? Maybe other places around the globe are so hostile that no one dare make eye contact?

Then I overheard one kid ask his father: “why'd that white man smile at you dad?”

The parent responded in another language as I walked past.

I never figured I was being evil eyed because I was white.

We Canadians warmly welcome others to our once great land, only to get slammed for not being the same race of those we welcome?

What a horrible world we live in, when parents teach their kids to hate others not like them. What a horrid future we as a country and a civilization will be, when others think it okay to discriminate against others not just like them.

What an awful world to live in when a smile 'hello' is used to teach others to hate.