I can only imagine the outcome if Joshua Bell were to play violin on the Creighton mall on a regular school day.
As I walk to class most days, one of my favorite things to do is look around and watch the activity around me. It’s fascinating to observe the ways some people avoid having contact with their present world. There are the ones who take out their cell phones the minute they exit a classroom and proceed to talk all the way to their next class. Then there are others who plug into their iPods and pull their hoods over their heads to let the world know that they are currently in “escape” mode.
And then there are the ones I like to call the “dodgers.” When they walk past a line of fraternity/sorority lettered-shirts sitting behind a table on the mall, they dodge (usually slightly to the right if walking westward on the mall) in order to avoid any solicited requests to take part in a pigskin game or to throw a pie in a sorority girl’s face.
If Joshua Bell were to stand on the “Bean” and play his violin, I can guarantee he would have the same reaction from people as he did at the Metro station in D.C. and most likely would have equally as many “dodgers.”
As much as I would like to say I would be one of the few to stop, I know myself well enough to admit that I would be one of the hundreds of students who would pass by. Even though I’ve had my fair share of times when I, too, have felt like “elevator music” at various singing events I’ve done, I’m afraid I would be too focused on getting to my next location.
However, I will make a pledge from here on forward: I will try my best to avoid being a “dodger” when presented with an opportunity to take in something that delves into the greater beauty of life (However, this pledge does not apply to pie throwing or pigskin tournaments).
Thank you, Gene Weingarten, for helping me realize one of my flaws tonight. As a society, we need journalists who can help us realize the harsh truths about the downfalls of our human nature.
Cleaning up spills 
