Grow Up, Toronto!

Last night, a few friends and I rang in 2009 in a sea of 40 000 screaming revelers in Nathan Phillips Square. Though I'd rather have been in Times Square, the atmosphere was great. But as we were getting out of the square and going home, I couldn't believe how uncivilized Torontonians behaved.

We got pretty close to the stage, so naturally, it was a struggle to get out afterward. But I never imagined that people in Toronto could be that ruthless, merciless, and immature in pushing and shoving their way out. We seem to not know the basic behavioral values taught in kindergarten-keep your hands to yourself, be polite to others, pushing is rude...

Even during the show, there was constant heckling from certain people in the crowd. I believe in freedom in expression, but some people were just way overboard. What I think is that certain people think it's cool to boo performers, regardless of whether they're good or not. If you're there just to yell at the people on stage, then I don't know why you're there in the first place. Why stand in the -20 degree weather just to do that, wasting your time, and annoying other people who simply want to enjoy their time?

Some Torontonians seem to have no patience whatsoever, and not care about the interests of anyone but themselves. It was truly appalling to be in that crowd of uncivilized citizens, and be pushed like a toy. People acted as if they were pigs squished together in a pen. Is this what we've become as a society?

I was down in New York City on July 4th (Independence Day for the Americans). My parents and I watched the spectacular fireworks over the East River in Manhattan. Since we went early, we were allowed to stand on a bridge beside the river, along with thousands of others who also came early. Below the bridge, the late-comers had to stand behind a fence guarded by police. The crowd was simply amazing-with estimates of over half a million. Yet, when the fireworks were over, there was no pushing or shoving. It took a long time to get back to the hotel, but people gave eachother personal space, and panned out in an orderly fashion. That is what you call civility, and that's what was lacking last night in Nathan Phillips Square.

The street parties were pretty wild too, but that's what happens in a free society like ours. As long as people can control themselves, which for the most part they were able to do, then wild street parties can be fun.

However, I was stunned that the police did not close the streets adjacent to the square, such as Queen and Bay. The narrow sidewalks are no match for 40 000 people, so it's inevitable the crowd would spill onto the street. But the police decided to close the streets only after the street parties broke out and it was obvious no cars would get through. TOO LATE.

Like I said before, the new year's atmosphere was generally festive but it was on the verge of becoming dangerous. The nasty pushing, shoving, impatience and verbal exchanges were unbelievably pathetic. And there definitely has to be more police presence in the future.

We are a civilized society. It's time we started acting like it.

GROW UP, TORONTO!

-D

PS: Happy New Year!