The Good Karen

Daily writing prompt

What do you do to be involved in the community?

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I’m an introvert, so I don’t get out and socialize much. My energy level isn’t high either. It’s definitely not equal to the usual demands of the day. After tending to my family’s needs, I expectedly don’t have any leftover to spare the rest of the world. So, besides paying my taxes, I don’t really have a great deal of contribution to my community.

I mean, I support the local businesses. I’m nice enough, although not necessarily friendly, to the people I encounter. I help out however I can when there’s an obvious pressing need. Other than these, I don’t really actively contribute to the betterment of the community.

Not that I’m apathetic. I care, but it’s more congruent with my personality to keep to myself. As a rule. I have to admit that I’m enough of a busybody to welcome gossip that makes its way to me, usually care of my mother.

While I generally stay out of other people’s business, I’m not one either to stand by while I perceive something wrong. I’m not a white woman, and I believe I’m not racist, but I’m a veteran kvetch. I complain like I make money out of it (I don’t). In this way, I’m very much a Karen.

If there’s somebody still caterwauling the murder of an ’80s power ballad past 10pm, I’m calling the barangay. I’m Filipino and have a high tolerance for karaoke, but I’m a stickler for respecting other people’s sleep, especially since I get so little.

If I hear a screaming match, I report it. If I see a loose dog on the street, I report it. If I see vagrants taking over somebody’s stoop, I report it. I don’t mind looking the fool. If it turns out I made a mistake, I’ll apologize, but I believe in law and order, so if that loud fight was just a lovers’ tiff between two dramatic people, then good. I think they should be quieter, but I’m glad that it wasn’t anything that could have turned violent.

A loose dog is problematic. It could end up chasing or biting an innocent pedestrian. Even worse, it could end up getting hurt. The street isn’t a safe place for our pets. At least in our neighborhood, it isn’t. Its owner should be more responsible. If it’s somebody I knew, I would call them directly. If I can ask around, I would, but if I’m busy, then I’d get the authorities. The important thing is to preempt disaster.

As for vagrants, for the safety and security of our community, they shouldn’t be tolerated. If it’s a person simply fallen in misfortune, then we should try to help them preserve their dignity. The government and some churches have programs for such situations, especially if mental health is involved. Also, it’s important to nip a possible problem in the bud. A full-blown vagrancy crisis usually starts with one vagrant allowed to linger.

So, I do think I sound like a well-meaning Karen right there. I’m not going to pick on little kids selling water to raise funds or report a person of color who was reminding me to follow the law, but I will want to talk to the manager and complain if I think something isn’t right.