June 10, 2008
Just a sad story I stumbled over
But it’s so sad, arbitrary and unnecessary; and possibly typical of young people, especially young men, and our rich Western lives today. I’m so sad that the accident happened at all, for the family involved and the man who died. But also for the other victims: the other drivers, and young passengers, and for the young woman who basically watched her boyfriend kill himself.
Boys have always been boys, sure. They are typically – on average – more reckless, more willing to take (or not see) risks than women of similar age. But that’s not all, is it? Today we also live in a cashed-up Western society, where young men can afford not just a cheap second hand motorbike but a powerful one, or a powerful car for that matter. 30 years ago ‘performance’ cars were rare and took an effort to purchase. Now, with easy credit and good jobs, coupled with cheaper manufactured goods, performance cars are not just easily obtainable but have performance way beyond what we once thought of as ‘fast’. Not that it is the deciding factor – the sheer recklessness of speed surely takes that prize, and can happen with an underpowered vehicle as well. Overtaking cars that are stopped or slowing – surely a clue that something was up – was a clear mistake.
I’m sure no words can repair this damage, or the damage done daily by the ready availability of fast machines and a failure to educate young riders and drivers sufficiently in the skills they need to survive. Indeed in our mad Western frenzy to achieve materialist ‘heaven’, even suggesting that we may have taken the wrong road, by selling cars and bikes that do not fit the roads and traffic conditions of today, will draw cries of hate and loathing. And calls to gag those “killjoys” who dare suggest that we should draw breath and reappraise what really matters in life.
