*seeing is believing?

ellen meacham: When Mrs. Meacham showed the documentary about Kennedy's trip through the Delta, I noticed that she was very touched. She was almost moved to tears as we watched Kennedy kneel down to each child and ask what s/he had eaten for lunch. Many replied nothing. Kennedy joined Meacham in utter dismay at the sight. As I watched, I wondered if the Delta would bring about the same feelings in me. After all, poverty at that level is an extremely powerful thing. Well, I had my chance to find out exactly how I'd feel, as we traveled to Greenwood, Indianola, and Money on Saturday.
    To my surprise, I was not nearly as shocked as I thought I would be after hearing and seeing all that we have in the past month and a half. We took a driving tour through the town, while Ashley explained how each neighborhood was set up, which streets should not be taken at night, the different places where shootings had happened, etc. I sat in the back next to Philip and Tish and stared out the window. I didn't feel much of anything. I wasn't overtaken with sadness when I laid eyes on the decrepit houses and stores. I didn't have the urge to cry. I just watched, quietly, and snapped a few photos. Maybe it didn't seem that unreal because there were people all around. Or maybe because I've seen similar neighborhoods before. I'm not really sure.
    The only thing that evoked any type of emotion was the sight I saw once we crossed over the bridge. Within 2 minutes we were in the company of mansions, beautiful lawns, and nice cars. That, to me, was the unbelievable part. That these two worlds, although very unrelated, could not come together under the one thing they have in common--their town. Ben and Ashley explained that when the two "sides" cross paths, it is as though they don't even see each other. Each is invisible to the other. But how can this be? We saw that nice antique shops and 5-star hotels are located on the south side (the poor side), so we know that the two worlds are interacting, at least on some level. So why have they not opened their eyes? Why have they not, like Kennedy and like us, taken a trip through the Delta, even through the other side of their OWN town? This, is unreal to me. They obviously have the resources to do something. I mean, a new mansion was being built the very day we visited. Maybe someday they will make the trip, and hopefully they will be as shocked about their ignorance as I was.