I am full of respect for your actions--both in speaking to potential voters and in stepping in to prevent the abuse of a woman in the street. I must call one aspect of your story into question, however: you mention the race of the attackers but not of anyone else in your story. It's not possible to read that without assuming some kind of correlation in your mind between their being black and their being violent.

Was that a correlation you intended your readers to draw? I hope you will reconsider it. Thanks.

Interesting that Calvin Walsh mentions the skin color of the two males (black), but does not specify the skin color of either himself or the women the "black males" were hitting on.

Calvin Walsh wants people to take action against crime, but yet, doesn't mention filing a police report on this incident. The security cameras at the blue line Max station on 102nd would then be able to provide evidence to the police and the public to help identify the two perps against the (skin color not mentioned) woman and (skin color not mentioned) Mr. Walsh. The cameras at 102nd are not only on the platform but inside the MAX itself.

The Kitty Genovese case. Kitty Genovese was not raped, as you cited. Let's get that out of the way. She was stabbed quickly, faster than a Fort Hood psychiatrist could unload a few clips into a crowded room. The police were notified within minutes of the short period of time, twice, when Kitty Genovese's attack was first spotted by more than one of her many neighbors. If memory serves me, at least two people testified they called the police during the crime.

Let us hope that Calvin Walsh contacted the police immediately and the two black male men who threatened him and the (unnamed skin color) woman are found and prosecuted. If Calvin Walsh did not report this crime then he is part of the bystander effect himself.

Look for example at what these two (unnamed skin color) women did when they were assaulted and robbed on the MAX.

http://www.kptv.com/news/21683371/detail.html

If Calvin Welsh followed through like these two (unnamed skin color) young ladies did we would applaud him. If not? Bystander. Why isn't Calvin Walsh's story on the news?

Another good reason to avoid MAX.

For those who don't know, Geoff Ludt is a highly visible tea bagger in Portland.

I carry a handgun. I would have helped.

I must call one aspect of your story into question, however: you mention the race of the attackers but not of anyone else in your story.

The instant I came to that part in the story I knew someone would tee off on the author for mentioning the ethnicity of the perps. Very telling what some people pick up on.

Another good reason to avoid MAX.

An even better reason to consider obtaining a concealed carry permit, getting proficient with a handgun, and carrying it with you at all times.

The onlookers could have at minimum taken out their cellphones and dialed 911, start taking video to record the crime, and collectively started yelling and making a fuss without doing combat with two young punks. There is a time for men who claim to be men to step forward and confront evil to protect those who need it. This was such a time. Two cowardly punks who are menacing a young female deserve nothing short of jail and if a group of men can't hold them accountable or run them off until the police arrive, then we are genuinely at the mercy of barbarians.

Well done, Calvin. You acted courageously during a terrifying experience. I do hope that you decided to file a report. And to those concerned about his description of the perps skin type--he was just describing the scene.

It takes courage to get involved in a situation like this when you are not armed. No one wants to be beat up or stabbed, and it gets even tougher when out-numbered. Thank you Calvin. That could have my daughter, sister, or friend.

Even if armed, one would have some explaining to do after shooting someone. You may not get the benefit of the doubt, as witnesses all see it differently. Having a gun will likely get into trouble unless you know how to use it, are prepared to use it, and use it only when the circumstances are very dire.

Regarding the issue of race. I do find that part of story interesting, and I am personally glad the author mentioned it. I don't think he wanted to paint any particular group as violent or evil, but he did mention it and by doing so it raises some interesting social questions for me.

1) If the perps were white, would other bystanders have been in less fear, and more likely to get involved?

2) If the victim was white, would other bystanders been more likely to get involved?

Uncomfortable discussions maybe, but hiding race issues in a story without mention disguises exactly what we should discuss in the open. My guess is that Calvin intervened because race did not influence him much either way.

It is not wrong to mention race. To ignore it, is to ignore the culture of violence among African American youth, and the terrible impact it has on the African American community, and our society at large. Until young African American men are held to account for their violent behavior and attitudes,their misogynist sexual attitudes as expressed in hip hop culture, until the problem of the absence of fathers and male parenting is addressed, and until there is an utter rejection and an intolerance in the African American and other communities for the behaviors we see witnessed here, we can expect more of the same. The killing and violence will continue in the African American community, the racist stereotypes will persist,and the racial divide in this country will only continue. And all the political correctness about not mentioning ethnicity is ludicrous when it is so obviously a dimension of the problem. And let's be honest, when you get on public transport, and you see a group of young men who look like gangsters, and act like it, AA, Latino, or White, who wants to stay on that bus or Max car. We should not be afraid to be in public, and young men, or women, need to know they are going to have hard consequences for any form of violence or menacing. I'm glad that within the AA community, people like Bill Cosby are willing to take the heat for naming this cultural sickness and trying to do something about it.

It's definitely a matter of moral fortitude and personality. This was first investigated scientifically by Stanley Milgram. His experiment is legendary. What is less well known is that it was replicated by faculty at Princeton, and in that version a young student refused to go along, like everyone else. Later he was drafted to fight in Viet Nam. His name was Ron Ridenhour, and it was he that sent the letter to 30 members of Congress and to Pentagon officials that made My Lai a massacre and not business as usual. Maybe the study caused him to consider the issues long and hard before the fateful time arrived. If so, one can arguably say that this and t.a.'s bike articles are the best material, from the POV of social good, posted on BO.

It is the same motivation that leads progressives to try to get through to Dems. "You're too small to matter. The majority aren't usually too wrong. We got rid of that evil Son of a Bush. Maybe s(he) really likes it". It's the same logic saying to not try. There's a lot more in common, though.

Bill pointed out, in relation to the accusation that parties function with a "herd mentality", that that is the human condition. Looking at these phenomena and political parties, you see common primate tendencies. From an alien's point of view they are all examples of how humans will usually act contrary to their interests, if that is what the herd is doing. Unfortunate incidents, such as the post subject, represent ways that that gets twisted when population density becomes too great and individual worth too little.

This is no small problem. The behavior required to gain a better society is directly in contradiction to the way we evolved. The mismatch is even a recognized, terminal disease condition. It's called clinical depression. Considering all the individuals, rejected by every troupe and tribe over eons, that could go off and start a new troupe or tribe, behavior is incredibly narrow. That is because our brains are coded with a self destruct mechanism. If you are rejected by the herd, kill yourself. That is how ingrained it is. Reaching the better angels of our natures requires constant discipline and meditation. It's not cool to wave a drink under the nose of a recovering alcoholic, and to progressives, a lot of what parties do, vis a vis herd v individual responsibility, is no better. Doesn't every parent know that our youth are daily torn between "just do it", and "take responsibility"? Our tolerating the mixed message is a big part of that great American business fraud that I'm always banging on about.

It is heroic and takes great individual courage to battle. Like arguing with the Dem faithful. Because the banality is so much more subtle and socialized, the contribution is not going to be recognized in the same way. OK. It's not going to be recognized at all. The risk is just as great. A lot of us are old boomers and, between heart attacks, strokes and just not giving a damn, the ones that resemble your protagonist are dying very real deaths every day. I have lost many good friends in the last 5 years, that just couldn't fight another 50 years. Air Force personnel that endured Lemay's "what are our limits drills" died early from heart attacks, just as much from their service as those that took a bullet. Perhaps on Veterans Day we should have remembered how many cold war deaths still are undocumented.

OK. Time to laugh and have t.a. tell me how incredibly disrespectful, yada, yada... (Might consider that respect is deleting the obvious spam that will be the same copy/paste from the same dittoheads on the same off-topic subjects).

"He fired at it [the baby] with a .45. He missed. We all laughed. He got up three or four feet closer and missed again. We laughed. Then he got up right on top and plugged him." - —Eyewitness testimony, My Lai Peers Inquiry

Reading this article, Mr. Walsh, brought a well needed smile to my face. It is comforting to know that your courageous heart and goodwill continue to be the main influences on your behavior. I am glad you are doing well, and that, professionally, you are pursuing your passion. (Also, I'm really glad you weren't stabbed. That'd be bad. ;) ) Keep up the good work. The world needs more people like you in it.

Ricky:

The cameras at 102nd are not only on the platform but inside the MAX itself.

Bob T:

One wonders where the Tri-Met security guard was. I go over to this Gateway Transit Center once in a while and I always see him during the few minutes I'm there.

Bob Tiernan Portland

I am certainly not all twisted up about the description of the aggressors. They happened to be AA

Agreed. Those folks from Alcoholics Anonymous can be some nasty buggers!

Since not too many people are saying it, thank you Mr Barnhart for actually doing something.

To everyone else who wants to take videos, analyze this in a racial context or wait ffor a uniformed govt agent to save them whenever they are in trouble - I hope I have some more decisive like Mr Barnhart around if I'm in trouble.

"thank you Mr Barnhart"

Sorry, meant Calvin Walsh. The sentiments are still the same.

"It is heroic and takes great individual courage to battle. Like arguing with the Dem faithful. Because the banality is so much more subtle and socialized, the contribution is not going to be recognized in the same way. OK."

Like arguing with the Democratic and Republican faithful when their leaders and propagandists on behalf of the military-industrial complex are hell-bent on war or stacking the deck in favor of corporate Amerika.

(Talking of war, if anyone wants to digress Informed Comment has an exceptionally interesting guest article on possible steps to take in Afghanistan. Related to this thread is an ominous section in the article that suggests a potential mugging of America by the military. If that occurs, will the mass of American people stand by and do nothing like their possible microcosm at the Max station in Portland?)

"There are and always will be bad people in the world that choose to act with aggressive violent behavior, what shocked me the most was the reaction of the rest of the individuals that were waiting on the train platform."

So how do we maintain peace is such a world? We don't want to use "force" - especially guns. Guns should be outlawed and only used by the military.

I don't think the reaction of the crowd should be so "shocking" We've spent the last 40 years feminizing "men" and it's obviously worked. Todays "men" are really much more women like - especially in Portland, where that's a valued trait - than in previous generations.

"Reminds me of the gang rape outside a school dance, where people watched, did nothing, and even joined in as a girl was raped."

Wouldn't that be funny it that happened to Sarah Palin!!

""Reminds me of the gang rape outside a school dance, where people watched, did nothing, and even joined in as a girl was raped."

Wouldn't that be funny it that happened to Sarah Palin!!"

Despite a negative opinion regarding Sarah Palin and what she stands for, my answer is an unequivocal "No."

"I carry a handgun. I would have helped." - Meg

A BO'er with a gun?? Huh? Mother Earth to Meg: guns are evil. Guns are the problem - NOT THE SOLUTION! You need to get intouch with your inner democrat. Guns should be banned and outlawed, like in Europe and other socialist countries - then we could all live in peace! Please turn your gun in to be destroyed. The county has programs for this. You need help Meg, I will be chanting/fasting for your well being.

Dan:

"I don't think the reaction of the crowd should be so "shocking" We've spent the last 40 years feminizing "men" and it's obviously worked. Todays "men" are really much more women like"

You imply that it's solely the responsibility of men to take action when something wrong is happening. Since when is it only up to men to stand up for what's right? I'm a 5'4, small female and I know I would have done the same as Calvin. Just the other day, there was a fight in the school where I teach, and I had to jump in the middle of it and pin a young man up against the wall until he calmed down. This was hardly "feminine" of me. It's the responsibility of every human - not just men - to daily live out our morals and step in bravely when necessary. Please don't assume that femininity equates to inaction or weakness. And please don't assume that a woman couldn't help a fellow citizen in trouble.

" Since when is it only up to men to stand up for what's right? I'm a 5'4, small female and I know I would have done the same as Calvin" - Amy

You go girl! ....And I bet you make a mean vegetarian lasagna. Yeeeeowwww!

"Culture of violence among African American youth".... this is a misattribution. Think more about the culture of violence period, or be a little more specified in your descriptive phrasing, I would suggest. It exists on the rez in those ghettos (it's disorienting to hear hip hop played on rez radio in the middle of nowhere, and to see BTV blaring in a housing authority home [stereotypes, but sadly typical] where the landscapes do not have anything to do with that which is being broadcast.

"Culture of violence" is a term that has fallen out of fashion, as it has been misused by bleeding hearts as well as their antitheses.

Jeez, Ricky. You are one mean bastard. Egad. Calvin contributed to the bystander effect by not calling police [maybe]? Really? Egad. Go take a good dose of psyllium husk, sir. Calvin, as a woman who could not escape big city violence in her youth and later again, I'm here to thank you for STOPPING it, for taking responsibility and being smart instead of a stupid hero.

I'd have been happy a few times to have had someone step to my side- life would be less emotionally calibrated for me now.

Zarathustra, you are fast becoming my sworn hero. I like your posts.

This topic continues to be unbelievable until Mr. Barnhardt updates it showing that Calvin contacted and filed a police report.

Ricky, I guess you ate nails for breakfast so his as doesn't seem so tough.

I could propose an explanation for the story as given, even if there was no police report. I have had a knife pulled on me twice, both muggings. The "ring of truth" in his story was the bit about "brandishing". That was exactly my experience. Having someone move in stealthily is much more frightening. Yet, every time I DID file a police report, the cops were more interested in if I had been drinking, etc. No investigations were ever made, the reports were just filed for number crunching. Since he said it had happened before, might he not have filed reports in those incidents, and now knew the utter futility of doing so, balanced against practical considerations like missing the next train?

So, Ricky: are you going to tell me that a terrible sexual crime that happened to me at age sixteen really did not happen because, shellshocked and raised not to really apply justice to myself, I did not even think to report it to police much less the family that was utterly not there for me by then? Getting through it somehow, alone, was all I had on my mind. And, having seen some midnight crimes in my time in SF, NYC, LA, I've got a realistic view on what you get for your dime and hours spent, oft-times, in reporting.

I am an absolute data hound. I am the queen of reportage and feedback. But that's data! This is the reality of how we function after violence and danger.

Eh?

Sheesh.

@ Peri Brown

Understandable for you to not realize that this Calvin incident detailed is suspicious in timing. I offer you the following link:

http://www.kptv.com/news/21683371/detail.html

A woman gets her sunglasses grabbed off the top of her head. A fight ensues. The police review things and catch two suspect. It makes local broadcast news.

Calvin is at the same station, has a knife pulled on him after a woman is assaulted. It doesn't make any news or shows police department involvement. Something stinks in Denmark here.

The far greater point , however, is that Calvin became a bystander himself by not reporting it to the police.

Update us with the details on Cal's incident. Dates, times, police involvement so we can believe it. Shouldn't be hard to do. Or we could rely on the old excuse that blogging isn't really journalism so therefore nobody should question "opinions" or check out facts too well. I'll gladly admit I am wrong if I am.

Just saying while the narrative doesn't fit what you might think one ideally should do, it does fit what one (with guts) would do.

DarrelP and company prove it out again: "No good deed goes unpunished."

Welcome aboard, Calvin.

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The guy had every right to identify those two POS punks as black. Any guy points a knife at me and I'll call him as I see him!

The guy had every right to identify those two POS punks as black. Any guy points a knife at me and I'll call him as I see him!

I'd bet anyone who posted that this incident makes for a good reason to carry a gun and/or avoid MAX does not ride public trans. Another opportunity to decry public trans. has been taken up as a result of this incident.

It's really not that bad on MAX. All sorts of people ride it. Incidents happen occasionally, but you are more at risk to your safety, even in your ridiculous, gas-guzzling SUV, than you are on MAX, due to higher likelihood of traffic accident than being accosted on MAX.

And great going, the guy who came to the aid of that woman.

Thank you Calvin. It is good to hear about people, like you, who step up for one of their fellow man. Glad to hear that our neighbors in the North are taking a stand against violence of any kind to anyone. Peace, from Northern California.

Okay story. I wonder if any of it is true. Try to extrude something better next time.

If you really think you need to be armed at all times to be safe in America you must be crazy to live here.

The article doesn't say, but please confirm that this was on a Friday. Why there isn't a constant police presence at 102nd on Fridays is beyond me. You are guaranteed an incident as described.

SA is right though. Rather than avoid Tri-Met, those of you driving around on your critical errands should join those sacrificing and dying for your creature comforts.

Beav: ????? sacrificing and dying.... ? Ehhh?

see t.a.'s bike posts.