Back home after a week of travel to see my daughter in Georgia. Two days out, two days back, 2,000 miles, and many good memories made.
I had a couple of conversations with rangers at two different National Parks sites about the dog Filbrix and my refusing to enter into the sites with my pet because it was clearly posted “No Pets Allowed“. While there was an exception for service animals, the signs were clear. Out of respect for the policies declared by the Park Service, the dog Filbrix and I stayed outside while my better half went inside to spend time with the displays.
My first conversation with a ranger was with a woman who was admittedly a dog lover. Filbrix and I were standing near the exit of an airplane hanger (part of the Tuskeegee Airmen Monument) in the shade when she came by. We discussed the prohibition and she told me that she appreciated my abiding by the rules. Apparently, there are some people who either disregard the rules, or try to slide past by claiming their animals are support animals. We agreed that the tactic of trying to slide past the prohibitions was nothing but bullshit.
The second conversation was at the Selma-Montgomery March Interpretive Center in Alabama. The conversation was a bit shorter, with us coming to the conclusion that one of the biggest problems we have these days is an almost universal lack of respect for others, encouraged by certain politicians. (I mentioned one in particular. The ranger laughed and then told me with a straight face that she was not allowed to discuss politics. I told her that I knew why she reacted, assuring her that if pressed, I would say she never said a word!)
The ranger’s junior partner followed me out the door and offered to watch Filbrix when I went inside to view the Interpretive Center. (They were good buddies when I came back out)
Respect is a theme that hit me in the face while going through the Center. Rather, it was a lack of respect for a group of people by people wanting to hold onto power and privilege. Most of the people giving the marchers grief for wanting the right to vote had no real power themselves, but they believed they did because of the color of their skin contrasting with the color of many of the marchers. What was missing was empathy – respect if you will – for another human being.
The same holds true today.
There seems to be no empathy for others. Should I say, little empathy for others because of hatred being stirred up by certain politicians and/or talk show hosts. Some of those certain politicians have managed to wrangle our system of elections to favor their own interests – effectively disenfranchising certain groups in order to swing elections in their favor.
The bullshit quotient is as bad as the bullshit being offered on the internet by firms assuring people that they can have their animals declared as support animals so that they can bypass “No Pets” rules.
Yes, I have the freedom to do what I want, but the limits on my freedom end when I trample on another’s freedom by disrespecting the other (and vice-versa).
Be Seeing You!
bdharrellauthor 