MBTA employees spent Monday morning handing out flyers to commuters reminding them that Boston is a hotbed of terrorism -- and really has been since the Tea Party -- and that we need to keep our guard up.
“See something, say something” is the T's new slogan. Anything unusual or suspicious should be cause for alarm. In the past, we’d all be too embarrassed. That ticking box tucked under the last row of the train, the one with “Danger: Dynamite” emblazoned on its side? We’d say nothing. “Yeah, sure I saw it,” we’d tell the reporters swarming on the scene afterwards. “But the driver seemed really busy explaining to customers that pennies weren’t accepted or showing them how to shove dollar bills down the tiny metal slot at the side of the token box. I really didn’t want to bother him.”
No, no, no, the T is telling us. We want to be told.
“Hey,” I say to a bus driver. “That man standing back there is acting very strangely.”
“How so?”
“Well, he just gave up his seat to a pregnant woman.”
“What’s the matter with that?”
“It’s suspicious. People on buses give up their seats for nobody. It’s part of the commuter code. Keep your eyes down, ignore everyone around you.”
His eyes widen. “You’re right, Mr. Alert Commuter!”
Moments later, the cops rush in. They grab the guy and take him down. Turns out he has an explanation. He’s from Los Angeles. Didn’t understand the code. Still, I’m not sure we want foreigners on our T anyway, so I feel pretty good about it.
And, I think, I will continue to keep my eyes open, continue to be alert. On-time trains, drivers who announce upcoming stops in clear English, commuters who smile instead of scowl -- there’s probably no limit to the evil bag of tricks these terrorists have up their sleeves. Hey wait, there’s a woman over there talking politely to a complete stranger.
“Police! Police!”