2003-02-13

 
The Car I Dented.

Today, while riding on my bike home from work, I wasn't looking where I was going and I lost my balance. Luckily I didn't steer myself into a passing car, but I did manage to steer myself into a parked one. I feel horrible, as I think I might have dented it. Now, I loathe automobiles, and it is very easy for me to say "dang those people should not have invested in a car in the first place!" but i cannot hold my tastes and standards for a happy life to everyone else. That kind of arrogance is problematic of patriotism and Hitlerism. I thought for a moment that I should leave a note, but I don't have enough money (nor would I feel comfortable) to pay someone to make their automobile more attractive. it's not like I broke the thing. But I do feel terrible that someone worked long hours just to acquire the thing. I would hope to say that perhaps I may help someone get over the attachment to materialism, but it is more likely that I just created an angrier person out of my victim and a more dishonest person out of myself. I keep thinking of my hippy idealism and thinking, as I ride my bike every day past the loud obnoxious guard dogs that someone thinks is necessary to "own, that only love can solve the problems of the world. The only way to get those dogs to shut up is not to impulsively bark back, not to swallow my irritability, but to go back to the dogs amidst the snarling and act compassionate, bring a treat, hush them... i don't know. but it is obvious in all cases, the case of international affairs especially, that the way to cease an unwanted sentiment is not to attack it but to deny it and insist otherwise.

In the case of the car I dented, I did not practice what I preach.... but still there are so many ways to rationalize what I did... what would you have done?
posted by MM 5:25 PM