Nothing gets me riled up as much as
1. People who throw litter out their
car windows. I have seen this done so regularly I now feel
discouraged by humankind. People of all ages do it and often so
nonchalantly that one can only think that they see it as a perfectly normal and
acceptable activity.
Two items seem most commonly involved: cigarette
butts and fast food packaging. Don’t all vehicles have ashtrays in them? Is
there some relationship between the quality of one’s food and the willingness
to disregard others, the environment, and the law?
Realistically,
one small cigarette butt and one paper box (for French fries) isn’t likely to
mean much. But as with all things, if too many people partake in this behavior,
lots of damage can accrue. And as I’ve learned during a few neighborhood
cleanups in the past year, there are way too many people engaging in this careless
and disrespectful act. My suggestion: if people are caught in the act doing this, their names should be
taken and posted in the newspaper and the city’s website. Perhaps this shame
would send the necessary message.
2. People who forget to turn off their
cell phones during a special performance. Obviously, I am biased on this one
as I don’t own (and hope never to own) a cell phone. Thus, when the ringtones
start whining, I can rest assured that it isn’t me. Yet, why can’t people be
more considerate of others? If you are attending an event, wouldn’t you have
enough respect to turn to your
phone to vibrate? Also, if an event is
happening in a dark auditorium, please leave your phones in your bag or pocket.
Opening them up to check for pages, texts, or even the time, greatly disrupts
the atmosphere. This past spring I went to such an event and you would have
thought it was the 4th of July with all the cell phone flashing
that was taking place.
3. People who harass you about what
you eat. I
hear that vegetarians are
known for berating people for eating meat—trying to make them feel guilty or immoral. I’ve
certainly witnessed this. But actually, more often, I witness “meat eaters”
question/jibe/challenge, in a mildly harassing tone, vegetarians or vegans
about not eating meat. (I should point out that I am biased here as well, since
I’ve been an ovo-lacto—eggs and milk okay—vegetarian since Oct 2002.)
Based
on this mode of behavior by so many, I sense that some see people as threats to
themselves if they eat differently from them, especially when it pertains to
“meat” or “no-meat.” So, I ask, if you are someone that hassles people about
their choice of food, try to recognize that it is a touchy subject and, thus,
please deal with it gently and carefully. Personally, I enjoy when people ask
me why I am a vegetarian, but I don’t expect it nor do I think they should
care. Similarly, I don’t go around asking people why they eat meat.
4. People that blame the victim for
everything. I’m
sure you’ve heard the refrain: People are poor or unsuccessful because they
don’t have what it takes or because they have made some bad decisions in life.
In short, they are to blame for their poverty or their
hardship. This emphasis on individual responsibility relieves the greater society from facing its shortcomings. The truth is that the playing field remains far
from even, though strides have been made. Thus, every individual’s situation
must be judged on its own merits. However, details such as race, class, gender,
handicaps/challenges and family life/circumstance, must be included in the
discussion. So often, I hear categorical dismissals of people
without such consideration. The classic example is the extraordinary pain and suffering
endured by so many poor people in Louisiana and Mississippi in the wake of
Hurricane Katrina. Blaming them for not evacuating or not heeding warnings shifts focus unfairly away from the
terrible circumstances they were abandoned to—such as, no access to public
transportation, insufficient supplies at “safe” havens, incredible delay in
emergency aid, et cetera. Remember, it is very easy to
“blame the victim” because it absolves us all of community
responsibility. Better to be actively
involved in improving support for victims as, and when, it’s needed.
5. People who are hopelessly
pessimistic. Life
is full of possibilities of all kinds. Too often, we neglect to think outside
the “box” and, therefore, overlook potential pathways and possible solutions.
For example, what if someone declared that she was going to help Galesburg
become a national hub of cultural exchange? Many might take such a suggestion
as misguided. Others would flatly see it as unrealistic. “Remember, this is
Galesburg,” they might retort. But, I ask, where does their pessimism leave us?
What if she, and others, worked towards her stated goal? Wouldn’t it be a worthwhile
enterprise even if they fell short in a few areas? Their efforts to invigorate
the community should be applauded, not casually dismissed or summarily
rejected. Right? I commend those in our community that work tirelessly to make
Galesburg the best city it can be and those that are willing to think outside
the norm and dream. If you don’t want to be a joiner or a supporter,
at least don’t be a detractor (unless,
of course, there is a compelling reason to be).
Maybe I am just too uptight
or intolerant? If you think so, please share. If you sympathize with any of the
“peeves” mentioned above, share that as well.
6/18/09