Perturbations

Per AI, sociology is "the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society, the study of social problems."

As a sociologist with a master's degree in Sociology from Ohio State University, 1985, I tend to notice the movements and apparent intentions of groups of people who interact with me; looking for small perturbations* that give clues as to what will happened to society, to my life within society, to problems that might arise.

In September 2021 after spending a restorative afternoon at the historic Old Orchard Beach in the beach community of Sako**, Maine (pop. 8,960), (I was sorely tired from my solo move to Maine where I anticipated spending the final years of my life) I was surprised to encounter several dark, rough-bearded foreign men jaywalking*** in front of my vehicle but I stopped as is required to allow them to wander past.  A certain anger in their body language, a hostile vibe from them told me not to make eye contact and not to linger so I did neither.  A block or so down the road I saw timid, heavily clothed women with their heads covered standing in apparent confusion outside a beachfront store.  I felt concern for these obviously disoriented foreigners trying to navigate the small beach community of Old Orchard Beach, and I felt a strong sense of hospitality that I was completely unable to extend to them due to my age which was mid-70s, health status which was severely deteriorated, and my purpose which was to find and place myself into senior housing somewhere in Maine.  My purpose and their purposes were probably identical, to make a home for ourselves here, only our attitudes differed, their was entitlement with anger versus mine of desperation and determination.  This could be partially an issue of old versus young, but IMHO (in my humble opinion) and based on what "they" say about their own intentions in the media this is an issue of their intention to conquer versus my desire to adapt.

As a sociologist I know that past demographic studies, such as were readily available in the 20th century, suggested that when a migrating population reaches a certain critical mass of numbers in their new country of choice then that migrant population becames more assertive and might even become violent, according to their intentions and perceived ability to proceed.  In the 21st century the international media gives voice to certain religious leaders (not Buddhist, not Christian, not Hindu, not all others with only one exception) who announce that their intention is to conquer the world by barbaric sword, with torture and lies.  IMHO when they say it out load, believe them.    It is as clear as their moon and star that strives to overwhelm us all.

Even if I were young enough to still do daytrips, I would not feel safe to return to Old Orchard Beach today; not to enjoy lobster rolls and fried clams, not to paddle the Saco River (and I was a great kayaker!), not to walk the pier and dream of sailing the ocean under fair skies, nor to experience the Palace Playland with "bumper cars, roller coasters, a fun house, a Ferris wheel, an enormous water slide, and a 24,000-foot arcade with more than 200 games."  None of that is worth the risk of having my old, wrinkled, white-haired head chopped off.  Oh, dear God let me be mistaken.

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*  PERTURBATION meaning: 1. worry 2. a small change in the regular movement of an object.

Source:  Cambridge English Dictionary.  Comment:  Big change often starts small.

** Sako phonetic spelling: SAH-koh.  Which is ironic because the provocation that it would take to get those older, White residents to "sock" someone is unimaginable.

** "Jaywalking is the act of pedestrians walking in or crossing a roadway in a manner that contravenes traffic regulations. The term jay-walking originated in the United States as a derivation of the phrase jay-driver (the word jay meaning a greenhorn, or rube, referring to people who drove horse-drawn carriages and automobiles on the wrong side of the road. The term is not a historically neutral one."  Source:  Wikipedia

Perturbations Over Sako, Maine In America

by Annmarie Throckmorton, copyright September 2021

Map—Old Orchard Beach in Sako near Biddleford, non-commercial use

non-commercial use