Essay Sample on Crowded Bust Stop: Overcrowding Amidst Abundance

Introduction

The bust stop is exceedingly busy. There is an unceasing inflow and outflow of people and buses. The overcrowding of the place is easily noticeable. Most of the buses are packed to capacity. The stuffing of the people and commodities is reminiscent to the old era when the scarcity of transport vehicles was an accepted fact. However, in the contemporary setting, the buses would be sufficient judging by the number, but the population surge is apparently responsible for the noted shortages. The situation gives credence to the saying 'the more things change the more they remain the same.' I silently concur as I wait for my turn to board the next available bus. The condition of the women, the infirm, and the old is spiteful, but life has to go on amidst the raging confusion and perplexity. There are no reservations for special category passengers like the ones mentioned. People sit haphazardly and there is no observation on any rules on reservation. Confusion reigns supreme.

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The buses commence their operations in the morning (mostly at 6 am). The early office goers are normally the first people to catch the buses. The rush increases as the day advances. The booking windows have long queues. Most of the people glower at their watches incessantly as they await their turns to be served. The boredom is evident, particularly when a bus delays. Some people spend much of their time in magazines and newspapers while a formidable fraction of the passengers stare at their phones. A few people engage in political discussions. Gossip seems to be the most dominant conversational paradigm. The presence of refreshments helps the hungry and the thirsty regale themselves. The beggars also take advantage of the crowding. They either beg out rightly or sing to impress the potential donors.

The arrival of a bus signals the beginning of chaos. The passengers rush in earnest to board. Breaking of the queue is an accepted fact. The scramble between the alighting and the boarding passengers gives a picture of deep confusion and a bit of incivility. The struggle is real. The vendors also take advantage of the human traffic to sell their wares. The pickpockets take advantage of the situation to earn a living. After all, it is survival for the fittest. Many people lose their luggage, but haste leaves humans with little or no humanity. Everyone cares less for the welfare of the other. The reckless and the rash passengers even crush the children and trample on the old. Standing there, I honestly questioned the fact that humans are the most advanced species on earth. It is hard to believe under the circumstances. I watched the proceedings in utter astonishment.

At the counter, the security personnel stand to help restore and maintain a degree of order. The heavy traffic means that the people have to queue to get service. A long line snakes towards the boarding bay. The people in the line have to cover their heads to guard against the scotching effects of the sun. Water bottles and occasional use of cameras is rampant. The regulation of the lines (by the guards) mainly happens when it becomes lumpy. The guards at time chastise people. Just like the metro station, the bus stop has heavy police presence. Private guards also help in maintain security.

The queue depicts inert discrimination based on certain parameters, albeit subtle. Gender, class, and age differentiate the passengers as they queue to catch a bus. From the outside, passengers are unified by their condition. The apparent existence of structural homogeneity supersedes the existing internal heterogeneity. The presence of institutional force as marked by the existence of the police and guards constitutes the subject within and order in the queue. The ticketing structure produces the unnecessary discrimination. The people who join the queue have the natural acceptance of the prefabricated discrimination that is existent but hard to notice. The essential qualities and the personal features of the people in the queue have little bearing on the goings-on in the bust stop. The unification of the individuals seems to allow the perception of each individual into a serial unit identifiable by the ticket he or she holds.

A critical look at the happening at the station reveals that the security guards propagate discrimination mostly based on origin and race. The members of the Arab community are subject to relatively thorough security machinery when compared to other races. Most of the people taken by the security officers to the search rooms are mostly Arabs with other races also making the cut, but for pure aesthetical reasons. Am tempted to ask, but am in such a hurry, and I do not want to interfere with police work lest I be arrested. Like everyone, I look on as the officers discharge their duties with confounded degrees of prejudice. The other races, mostly whites, considered as posing no notable security risk board the incoming buses with little obstruction. Nevertheless, other races must undergo mandatory searches to keep the country safe. Children and women, regardless of race, pass with a particular degree of ease. Perhaps, they consider them harmless. Adults, particularly young men of between 20 to 45 years undergo humiliating security searches. I later learnt that such constitute the routine, and that on matters security people should not take chances. It is better to be safe than sorry. I concur half-heartedly since terrorism has no race or religion. It is amorphous and may strike at any time wearing any face, religion, or hair color.

The profiling at the station was shocking and bewildering. The fact that nobody questioned the police offices goes a long way to emphasize how robotic people have become. The people pay too much respect to the system. The presence of the police and the guards play an important role in keeping the queue in order. The security personnel militate against any possible rupture within the queue, maintaining it a linear form. The behavior shows how the country intends to mould its subjects. The queue symbolizes the synchrony, self-containment, and obedience to authority. The fact that there are occasional incidents that people cut the lines shows humanity's deep desires to creep into animalistic, survival instincts. The apparent lack of conformity to the rules of the queues is an indicator of in-built callousness and deformity of morals among humans who are naturally selfish. The lack of a sense of civic evidently prompts the presence of security personnel who at times abuse the powers bestowed on them. Historically, guards tend to be averse to crowds, but that should not provide grounds for outright discrimination to certain communities.

Conclusion

The observations at the bus station opened my eyes to the difficulties that people undergo each day to fend for themselves and their families. The crowding is the most notable aspect when one arrives at a bus stop. People are jostling all over to try to make it to his or her destination on time. They push and shove at each other to catch the buses. The security is alert to prevent any incidents. Vigilance is significant in controlling the crowd and maintaining the order. In the ensuing milieu, racial discrimination and profiling rears its ugly head. The excuse is that certain races and gender are more susceptible to becoming terrorism, meaning that the officers must take extra caution when dealing with such people. The presumption of innocence is merely on paper. In real life such people are guilty and it is incumbent upon the security personnel to prove their innocence, albeit after thorough, humiliating security searches. The value of the police presence is immense, but application of discriminatory practices in executing their duties turns their presence to a source of insecurity and nuisance.