So I Have a Right?
A thankful heart, transforms the being and displaces the thought to steal. Join us on 11.11.2009 from 11am to 11pm in giving thanks and making a difference.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=122738724196&ref=mf
It was after eleven, taking my usual commute home. A quiet and peaceful night on a bus with four passengers getting ready to go. Then it all happen.
“Sir, may I have a transfer. You did not give me one when I got on the bus”, said a young teenage girl on her way home. “No”, said the driver, “I gave you one.” What I thought would have been an easy discourse turned out to be a confrontation that got me thinking and asking questions.
Should I have gotten involved? Could I? I didn’t. One guy offered to pay but the point was she had already paid but didn’t get her transfer. I sat and observed a confrontation between a bus driver and a teenage girl and there was lots going through my head. What if this was my daughter?
Looking back I don’t feel particular proud of my response to the situation but I learnt some valuable lessons. What was a simply request escalated into a gender, age, cultural and possible racial battle.
It amazed me to think that a transfer can lead to a battle between two people. The nature of our culture and society has gotten to this point, although we may speak about respect and tolerance, we fail to seek to understand. Rather depending on our own prejudgment and social beliefs.
There seemingly is an under current drive to project authority whether we have it our not, over others. Why? Guess because we believe we have a right to do so. Every one wants to be in control yet still we are so much out of control.
I have the utmost respect for our bus drivers. They are our public servants, taking us safely and connecting us to our destination. Theirs is a challenging task. Imagine, drive the bus, deal with other road users, follow their schedule, interface with boarding passengers, respond to stop request, assist passengers with directions and where to get off, collect fares;, issue transfers, obey the road code and law, uphold order on the bus for the safety of others, ensure the busy is in working order.
And what do we do, board the bus, pay our fare, find a sea or place to stand and ride. Some will talk to friends or listen to your music, read, write, sleep or simply steer through the windows.
So we have a right to respect and appreciate our public servants as they serve us. They in turn have a right to serve and protect the dignity of their jobs. It is incumbent upon each of us while there are differences or the need to uphold the law or life’s challenges to be in a daily mode of finding solutions rather than complicating conflicts.
Released Expressions Communications
“A journey into the inner thoughts”
www.thankful.ca
Copyright © 2009 O. Stephen Peart. All rights reserved. Reproductions in whole or in part in any form or medium without the expressed written permission of O. Stephen Peart are prohibited.
Edited by TEU/sw All stories and photos posted on this blog are to highlight and promote positive growth among All Canadians; with focuses on: Education, Diversity, Multiculturalism and Integration. Feedbacks are welcome: teuwitter@gmail.com
A thankful heart, transforms the being and displaces the thought to steal. Join us on 11.11.2009 from 11am to 11pm in giving thanks and making a difference.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=122738724196&ref=mf
It was after eleven, taking my usual commute home. A quiet and peaceful night on a bus with four passengers getting ready to go. Then it all happen.
“Sir, may I have a transfer. You did not give me one when I got on the bus”, said a young teenage girl on her way home. “No”, said the driver, “I gave you one.” What I thought would have been an easy discourse turned out to be a confrontation that got me thinking and asking questions.
Should I have gotten involved? Could I? I didn’t. One guy offered to pay but the point was she had already paid but didn’t get her transfer. I sat and observed a confrontation between a bus driver and a teenage girl and there was lots going through my head. What if this was my daughter?
Looking back I don’t feel particular proud of my response to the situation but I learnt some valuable lessons. What was a simply request escalated into a gender, age, cultural and possible racial battle.
It amazed me to think that a transfer can lead to a battle between two people. The nature of our culture and society has gotten to this point, although we may speak about respect and tolerance, we fail to seek to understand. Rather depending on our own prejudgment and social beliefs.
There seemingly is an under current drive to project authority whether we have it our not, over others. Why? Guess because we believe we have a right to do so. Every one wants to be in control yet still we are so much out of control.
I have the utmost respect for our bus drivers. They are our public servants, taking us safely and connecting us to our destination. Theirs is a challenging task. Imagine, drive the bus, deal with other road users, follow their schedule, interface with boarding passengers, respond to stop request, assist passengers with directions and where to get off, collect fares;, issue transfers, obey the road code and law, uphold order on the bus for the safety of others, ensure the busy is in working order.
And what do we do, board the bus, pay our fare, find a sea or place to stand and ride. Some will talk to friends or listen to your music, read, write, sleep or simply steer through the windows.
So we have a right to respect and appreciate our public servants as they serve us. They in turn have a right to serve and protect the dignity of their jobs. It is incumbent upon each of us while there are differences or the need to uphold the law or life’s challenges to be in a daily mode of finding solutions rather than complicating conflicts.
Released Expressions Communications
“A journey into the inner thoughts”
www.thankful.ca
Copyright © 2009 O. Stephen Peart. All rights reserved. Reproductions in whole or in part in any form or medium without the expressed written permission of O. Stephen Peart are prohibited.
Edited by TEU/sw All stories and photos posted on this blog are to highlight and promote positive growth among All Canadians; with focuses on: Education, Diversity, Multiculturalism and Integration. Feedbacks are welcome: teuwitter@gmail.com
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