I'm Special

As I puttered to my neighborhood grocery store to re-stock all my low carb, high fiber, tasteless pantry inventory, I was confronted with a technical driving dilemma.  Entering the store parking lot I am accustomed to waiting at the yellow-striped cross-walk for folks pushing carts adorned with full plastic bags and whiney kids from the store to their vehicles, but that wait is usually short and entertaining.  This time I stopped four cars back, the rear end of my mini van still street exposed.  An HEB jam unlike what is available at eye level on their shelves.  This was a full-blown traffic jam with cars stuck in both directions.  I feared a catastrophe.  But no, it was a red box jam.  The store installed a commercial video dispenser right on the front curb, and though the curbs are painted in bright red and clearly marked, "No Parking - Fire Lane," there were several cars parallel parked right in front of the video dispenser machine reducing the two way traffic to one lane, and with the added stoppage normally caused by successful shoppers exiting the store, all new arrivals and hopeful escapers were simply parked, nose to tail, in a bottleneck.  There was a line at the video dispenser, and the current customer was not gifted with quick decision making skills nor acuity with the check-out system.  We waited.  I counted 10 cars stuck, 22 people, awaiting the red box customer.    I knew at that moment that she was special, as were the others waiting in line behind her.  22 minutes later the line cleared, the curb-parkers re-entered the designed traffic flow, and I moved into the parking lot to begin my food foray.

Despite my rants against what I perceive as a total over-emphasis on athletics, I purchase season tickets to the local high school football games.  I do love sitting with my neighbors cheering the local boys on, watching the band and dance team and cheerleaders.  There is, I admit, something very communal about Friday nights, especially now that the temperatures have dropped.  The reserved seat section of our local stadium is clearly marked and my tickets assure me of the same spot on the cold aluminum bench for each home game.  I arrived at my purchased and assigned seat Friday night for the last home game of the season, only to discover an entire family sitting on the row where I nest.  I pulled my stub, double-checked the row and seat, looked at them and they looked back at me.  "You are in my seat,"  I said.  Rather than exit, they scooched to the right allowing me access.  These folks had general admission tickets, but sat in the reserved seat section hoping no one would arrive to claim the spot.  I knew they were special.

I traversed the 4 lane freeway to a nearby town, signs clearly posted, "Slower Traffic Stay Right."  That's a law in Texas.  If you are not passing someone, you should drive in the right lane.  You guessed it.  There ahead was an 18 wheeler in the right lane where he belonged, but next to him in the left lane was a pick-up truck driving the same speed blocking all other cars.  We drove in a multi-car formation for 10 miles before the pick-up finally inched ahead of the 18 wheeler and cars began a dance of sorts, moving ahead of the big truck, moving to the right lane, passing the pick-up on the right and continuing on their journey at the posted speed.  I knew the driver of the pick-up was special as he stubbornly refused to leave the left lane. 

We claim to be a civilized society, grounded in rational thought, respect for the rights of others, and adherence to our laws.  Not so true anymore, it appears to me.  It appears that most everyone has a reason at certain times and places to consider themselves special, above the law, above common courtesy, and empowered to do what works best for them, rather than consider the impact their behavior has on the larger group. 

That frightens me.  Can I trust you with my life when I approach a green light at an intersection?  Can I be assured that if I wait patiently in a line you will not cut in front of me?  Can I trust that if we all agree the following rules promote the safety and common welfare of all of us, that you will adhere?  Or, must I assume as I more and more frequently observe, that you might consider yourself special, above the law, above the rules of our society, and given whatever rationale you have developed for such a position, act on it in your own self interest placing me and all the others at risk?

The real problem with assuming the position, "I'm Special" is that the message is "You're Not."

We can ill afford a policemen on every corner to enforce the laws, nor can the local high school afford to hire ushers to ensure that folks in reserved seats purchased the right to be there.  We can ill afford a teacher for every student, a menu for every palate (thanks BG!), a starting position on every team, enough lines so that everyone is first.  Our basic societal glue is our willingness and self-discipline to follow the laws, even when no one is looking or monitoring.  Self-control and self-sacrifice is necessary for a large group to avoid war.  If we do not like the law, we can work to change it, we can organize a protest to speak up against it, but we cannot simply choose to ignore it because it is more convenient for us.  We cannot all be that kind of special.  If we are all above the law, there is no law.

I know and deeply believe that each human being is special, unique, gifted, precious and flawed.  Each person on this planet, all 7 billion of us, should, in my humble opinion, have freedom from tyranny, freedom to vote, freedom to aspire to an education.  Perhaps more basic, each person should be able to eat and drink enough to survive, sheltered from the elements.  I also believe that when my brother or my neighbor is at risk from losing any of the above, those of us who "have" should come to the aid of those of us who "have not."  I believe that because I picture human beings as part of one large group.  I ask no more of my neighbor than I am willing and able to give.  Unless we wish to return to the days where the strong survive and might makes right, we must all agree to abide by certain ground rules.

If I have and you do not, I will share.  If I do not have and you do, I will not seek to steal it from you, but might ask you to share.  I will stay to the right, stand in line, and park where designated for your benefit and mine. 

I am special in my own way, but I am not more special than you.