Dear Anonymous, excuse me, are you listening?

 

I was all set to write about something different in this edition and then the envelope arrived by U.S. Postal Service.  A very short letter, with all of its brevity and the author decided to remain unknown.  I will not bore you with the exact details of the letter. 

 

I open my own mail.  They say to throw unsigned mail with no return address in the trash. However, I am very interested in “people” as a rule.   I was actually amused by the letter.  I just wanted to respond because that is who I am and I find the writer pusillanimous.

 

Dear Anonymous Letter Writer,

 

You probably really do not know me well and if you think you do, I am here to tell you to think again.  When I retrieved my mail, I knew automatically that your letter was from a coward.  There was no return address on the envelope.  The meticulously typed envelope was also a give away to the type of person you are.    After reading it, I smiled and put it in a plastic bag.  I was not aghast or as surprised as you probably thought I would be.  However, I will bring it to the police department when I go to get my questions answered in April.

 

You used certain terms in your letter that gives you an age, most people born before 1965 do not use that specific terminology.  The grammar and mechanics of your usage are also a giveaway.  I am not sure what being black has to do with having a picture of myself or writing about myself.  Interestingly enough, that was the second clue that you are not a frequent reader.  I have been writing the “Excuse me, are you listening?” column for over a decade.  We print photos of our writers in every edition. I guess if I choose to put a photo of myself in, I can do that.

 

I may be a publisher to you but if you are looking for a response to your real issue, just call.  I do love constructive conversations.  We teach our children to “get it out” and you should be able to as well.  Having the small temper tantrum in your letter does not help you in the least.  

 

Being anonymous while expressing disdain is cowardly.  You must admit that if you received a letter in the mail that had no return address you would think the same thing. I did like the crispness and quality of the stark white paper.  That was also a giveaway to who you are. I actually love paper in all of its forms.

 

In regard to your statement that I deserved what happened to me, well you were right about that.  The “high risk felony stop” has taught me a lot about how people feel who are innocent and they are put in a compromising situation.  Most people understand that there should be systems and tools to prevent and respond to issues where people are getting stopped.  

 

However, would you not agree that having a public forum is one that can help maintain that mutual trust and respect. Thank goodness I have the means to discuss this important issue.

 

Your letter is interesting.  Outwardly, you probably do not have characteristics of one who would say that to anyone, whether they had a platform or not.  I am printing a response only because I was robbed of the opportunity to reply in writing back to you personally. Unless someone tries to physically hurt me, the door is still open for conversation.  Then you can tell me what would possess you not to be known.  The effectiveness of your letter was somehow lost as it slipped into the plastic Ziploc bag.

 

The ironic thing that happens when someone intends to hurt or frightening you, somehow, it always ends up good.  I was actually so tickled by your perfectly typed letter and by the way that you sealed it as well.  I often do have “tickle” moments in my office when I am either reading something.  I am sure that was not your intent either.  If the letter is  your form of retaliation, I hope that “in your real life” you are doing something spectacular to make the world a better place and not the bully that your letter perceives you to be.  I feel sorry for the people who actually have to be around you every day if you are. 

 

I regret that you felt so powerless and that this was your only option.  This response is not to validate you but to informs others that there are people in the world who hide behind paper and pen.  You only chose to be negative, there was so much more written in all of the newspapers over the years.

 

For all of the people who talk about people behind their backs or try to insert themselves insidiously into other people’s lives, worry about your own.  Picking up a good book, watching a reality show or just enjoying yourself would be a much better use of your time.  

 

I have learned a lot while being a runaway as a teenager in New York City.  I am sometimes surprised at all I have been able to survive.  Your attempt to disrupt was a blip on the map of my life.

 

I at least have the courage to write about being vulnerable and I am a better person for it. Next time reveal who you are so you can also leave yourself vulnerable, possibly learn something and be a better person for it too.

 

Love people,

 

Rina Risper

 

P.S.  Thank you to those who have offered support and love.  I sincerely appreciate it.  If you are reading about this situation for the first time in this edition please log on to www.tncp.net and search “excuse me, are you listening” and you should be able to find the previous columns regarding the mistaken identity “high risk felony” traffic stop I was involved with.  

 

This column was printed in the March 22, 2015 – April 4, 2015 edition.