Do You Care?

I know I have written on this numerous times below with varying levels of angst and hot sports opinions.

But this time I want to plead to your sensibilities as rational human beings and ask;

Do you care?

Simple observation tells me you do not.

National statistics tells me you do not.

Common decency and concern for other human beings tells me you do not.

Thus, I must surmise that …you do not…

Which is quite sad really. I care. I truly do. I care for each of you and I hurt when you hurt. I pray for you when I see you hurt, when I see you in trouble and distressed.

Yet, each and every day I experience your lack of concern or care in greater and greater measure.

But let’s look at this differently, from your standpoint.

You are busy, far busier than anytime ever in history. You have family, friends and work that keeps you in a constant state of need. You must get on with the many activities and draws upon your life and I accept and respect this.

But should it be at my and others expense.

Let me ask you a simple question; If it were within your power to save a life, would you do it? Would you take a moment to be inconvenienced if you knew that the outcome would be the preservation of my life? Do you care enough for this momentary distraction from your busy life?

Or is a life, my life, not worth it?

You may not know me, and may say, “well, I must know you to know if I would.”

So, let’s again shift the question because you may not know me and thus not really care, regardless of if it is a human kindness to save another.

If I handed you a loaded gun, would you pull the trigger on my beating heart?

Does that make the act of not saving a life shift for you into actually taking a life. Not by omission but by action?

Would that make it more real?

What am I on about, why all these questions about taking a life? Of course you have no desire to see me dead or have any hand in my death. Whether you care or not is not the point, you don’t want to see another human being die. That would be barbaric! How can I even ask such a question. What do you mean do I care! Of course I do!

No, no you don’t. Your actions do not show it. I do not believe.

You see, beyond gun violence. Beyond hate crimes. Beyond alcohol induced homicide we have a more simple weapon in our hands. Do you know of what I speak?

Wait, before you stop reading and walk away, please. Take a moment. If not for me, for your son, your daughter, your husband, your wife, your mother, your father, those you truly care for.

Every day, whether I am on the bike or in my truck I see it. Driving an 80 mile daily round trip commute has really brought this to my attention. Dodging people on the bike each and every day has heightened my awareness.

Why we have not legislated cell phone usage while operating a motor vehicle is beyond me.

If you are over the limit drunk you get hauled off to jail. The government wants my guns more and more each day because they think that it will put off the criminal element that guys like me would fight openly in the streets.

Yet, we allow the single most insidious tool of distraction, inebriation and death to be freely used with little to no consequence.

So I must deduce that, “you don’t care.” You simply feel that your phone and your communication is more valuable than my life.

And before you tell me it is not, review your actions. For this is what I am watching for more than your words and I see your eyes. I see them in your mirrors and they are not on me or the road.

…and before you pull up beside me and tell me you want me to pull over to talk to me because I honked at you when you swerved into my lane while on your phone…count the cost. You may find you just walked into a bears den with nothing but harsh words to get you out.