By Julia Rohrabaugh

Children are taught graffiti is vandalism. The beauties of graffiti and the possibility for it to be an encouraging tool is washed out by its more common occurrences of destruction. Exploring new places, specifically the urban scene, awakens people to the power of street art. When they’re taking a morning commute every day on the bus in downtown LA, staring listlessly outside the window, bored and unexcited about heading to work. The urban landscape seems barren at times, when the stores are closed and gated, and people are tucked away in their job offices or home nooks. However, in this monochromatic scene with dull paint chipping away at the curbs, cars parked on the street and in between, there is a painted box on the corner of somewhere and 6^th street. There is a white face on the side with sunglasses on, and when the bus stops at a red light just close enough, the rider can read: “Thieve the world; dispense only the good,” signed by Megzany.

This quote seen by probably thousands of people every day, causing hundreds to ponder the meaning, tens to tell their friends about it, and changes maybe one. Influencing people every day, or maybe only every week, nevertheless with words on a utility box. How come this isn’t what children are taught?