Submitted by Martin Shand, Aug 31, 2007 05:05

I have just read about "Just Ask the Locals". You have got to be joking. I am from Scotland and have just returned last week (6 in family) from New York having spent 2 days there as part of a 4 week vacation to the US. Although I have been before there was great excitement in going to New York. Around 9pm on the Wednesday evening I was pushing my son in his wheelchair through times square. My son is "terminally ill" and both physically and mentally handicapped. My 12 year old daughter was holding the side of my sons wheelchair. Standing outside the Reuters building talking to a colleague was what I would call a "typical" New Yorker. He was very smartly dressed and he had headphones and mic (appearing to be working for a local business). Suddenly he started screaming the worst swearing at my daughter shouting "Dont you ever "Fu****" walk through me". He kept repeating this again and again. She was absolutely terrified. I approached him and showed him my son thinking he would be reasonable. He replied " I dont give a f*** about him. F*** him. Where are you from JUST f** off back to where you came from. He was very aggressive. After 16 years this is the first time anyone has insulted my son. And it was a New Yorker. This really upset my wife. Even today I get that sick feeling in my stomach thinking about it. As you can imagine after loving New York for years this is now how we think of New Yorkers. Good Luck with your campaign BUT until you can get New Yorkers to tackle people like this its going to be a long struggle. I have traveled the world for many years and have never experienced what happened that day. Of course as I tell this story to others they will also take a negative view about New York. When will people realise that each New Yorker represents the whole city? And as for the guy, I hope he rots in hell.!! Martin Shand

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