ニューヨークの地下鉄で、多様性を象徴するような光景が撮影され、話題になっている。
ある男性が、Instagramに写真を投稿。そこには、ブルカを身に付けたムスリム女性と、ドラァグクイーンが隣同士に座る姿が写っていた。投稿者は、「大統領へ。これが自由の姿で、私たちは多様性になんら問題を抱えていないし、宗教の自由を受け入れる」とコメントを添えた。
右翼系のTwitterアカウントが、この写真を転用し、「自由主義者が求める未来だ」と揶揄した。ツイートは拡散し、海外メディアでも取り上げられ、反響を呼んだ。
ところが、人々の反応は、Twitter投稿者の意図とは概ね違うものだった。
「みんなが着たい服を着て、公共の場で快適に過ごし、何も恐れずに出掛ける？素晴らしい、ぜひそうしよう」「よくある月曜の朝の光景だ。僕らの街が、住むのに素晴らしい場所であることをよく分かる」などと、多様性を賞賛する声が数多く寄せられた。
中には、投稿者とは違う「自由主義者が求める未来」を目指す人たちもいた。
■今こそ共生についての議論を
2人の写真を撮影した男性は、BBCの取材に対して「今こそ、共生について議論するのに最適な時期だ。アメリカ人が難民やムスリムを受け入れれば、政府もそうすべきだと思う」と訴えた。
写真に写っていた同性愛者は、「この写真は、私にとって2人の人間が共存しているようにしか見えないのに、対立が生まれたり様々な意見が出たりしていることが面白い」と説明。「ヒジャブ姿の女性と、同性愛者の私が隣同士で地下鉄に乗っているのがおかしいという考えは、アメリカが目指す姿と対立する」と語った。
■関連画像集「21世紀のニューヨークの地下鉄」
21世紀のニューヨークの地下鉄
A 21st Century Subway(01 of18)
This slideshow is a series of images taken in one day of riding the Subway from the point of view of a tourist, someone who does not live in New York City and never has. It reflects the current nature of the network in the 21st century as viewed by a concerned traveler. Every year millions of travelers leave the 21st century transportation systems they know in their home nations and come to experience ours, the pride of New York City from over 100 years ago.
What's in a Name?(02 of18)
The MTA has considered renaming certain subway stations after corporate sponsors with deep enough pockets to afford the privilege. To some individuals the idea of renaming something for no other reason than to make a buck is an abhorrent idea. Others see opportunity in the slim chance the cash infusion would make the system a more functional place.
American Pride(03 of18)
New York City is undoubtedly a contributor to a sense of American Pride. It\'s the city most foreign travelers want most to visit, and sadly the one they often find themselves most disappointed in upon arrival. The American flag stamped on the sides of subway cars illustrates ownership of the system as an American creation. How we upkeep that system reflects on who we are as a nation.
A Sauna (04 of18)
Climate control exists in many of the world\'s subway systems but not in New York City. In the summer stations can become veritable saunas with temperature and humidity levels reaching the limits of human tolerance. Business travelers who dare to take the subway often show up for work shirts drenched in sweat as if they took a shower in them.
What What?(05 of18)
Subway announcements are often likened to the voice of the teacher in the Charlie Brown television cartoon. Almost no information is audible and for rare or first time users it\'s little more than a sad contribution to background noise.
Equipment Malfunction (06 of18)
It sometimes seems like the number of functional escalators in the MTA system equals or underperforms the number of malfunctioning escalators. I\'m not sure if the MTA publishes data on escalator function for any given day (operating at 40% escalation, or operating at 75% escalation), but it\'s worth considering as a way to boost riders spirits.
How Many Rats?(07 of18)
Can you count the number of rats in this image? It\'s not a trick question!
Subway Exposure (08 of18)
I\'ve never been a fan of exposed wires in any public space. It\'s just too tempting for those of us lacking self control. The ones who need to be saved from themselves, or just those under the age of accountability.
I'll Believe it When I See It(09 of18)
Plaques announcing subway improvements appear all over the MTA system attempting to dampen the argument that \'nothing ever improves in the Subway\' or justify the argument that \'riders need to pay more for better service.\'
Urinary Leakage (10 of18)
The MTA decides what advertisements run in the Subway System and what revenue that will generate. Other systems in the world follow the same structure. In Paris it\'s common to see ads for upcoming movies, a new fragrance, or popular citywide events. In New York you can also see ads of that nature in addition to those on urinary leakage, psychic services, and vaginal reconstruction.
Actual Leakage(11 of18)
Even during the driest of droughts there are always puddles of stagnant water to be found throughout the subway from various sources of leakage. \"Wet Floor\" signs are rarely used because the everyday New Yorker is prepared to assume every floor is a wet floor.
More Leakage (12 of18)
Exposed piping is a unique \"feature\" of the New York Subway, one could even argue it\'s urban chic. Over time though these urban fixtures tend to look like scenes from Ridley Scott\'s Alien.
Please Put Your Litter Into Trash Cans(13 of18)
We\'re all familiar (or least you will be at some point) with \'stoppages\' on MTA network due to track fires. Paper and other flammables such as \"Planned Service Change\" announcements can become dangerous pieces of litter costing riders valuable time and the system valuable dollars. Please put your litter into trash cans!
The Low Tech Answer (14 of18)
In an homage to the Subway System of the 20th Century, the MTA uses Paper Announcements to inform riders of scheduled changes to the services provided. Sadly these piece of paper sometimes fall onto the subway tracks, and well, we know what can happen then.
Focusing Attention on the Obvious(15 of18)
A wise person once said that \"the obvious can never be too overstated.\" It\'s very true that riding the New York City Subway system is not an excuse to begin fondling other passengers just because you paid for the ability to be there.
Consult the Map(16 of18)
Visitors unfamiliar with the complexities of the New York Subway often have to consult the map in order to find their way around Manhattan and the other places they wish to travel to. Sightseeing is a big part of the NYC economy and maps are a critical tool travelers use to find their way around the different parts of the city where they spend their tourist dollars.
Most Popular Trash(17 of18)
If a strategy to rename the subway stations after corporate sponsors goes through it might be wise for the sponsors in food/beverage/consumables who wish to partake to take over naming of the stations where they can find the most trash that fits their brand. They could concentrate their efforts on stations where their logo is already a visible and recognizable regularity.
Excuse My Question(18 of18)
Graffiti, like most forms of art, can tell us something about our culture. Was this a message from a disgruntled foreign visitor or just a fed up New Yorker looking to express his or her grief using the medium of a white-out bottle. We\'ll never know, but there\'s a take away message here somewhere.
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