So while canvassing door to door in an effort to gain support for NYPIRG politically and financially I was told by a rather grim man that since he would be dead soon the issue of global warming did not bother him. I asked how he felt it was fair that having been a contributing force he could leave me to inherit this planet the way it is and not care. His response? "I don't care if you die." A complete stranger looked me in the eyes and devalued not only my life, but the lives of seven billion other people. How can one person have the gull to find it within their right to do this? I walked away from this door with much less conviction than I had before, I went to a few more doors and then called it quits for the day. While walking back to town I was suddenly disgusted that I had ever taken it upon myself to decide the value of anybody's life. Shamed, I continued my walk back to Rhinebeck, New York and while walking a young couple pulled up beside me and offered me a ride into town. Somewhat shocked, I hesitated and then said why not and got in. After brief introductions they explained they were on their way upstate. Thinking they would be driving somewhere far north of this town I half jokingly said, "Cool, where we going?" They were puzzled for a second and then put two and two together and explained that upstate was the name of the movie theater and that they found my eagerness to travel with two strangers amusing. We chatted and then parted ways a few minutes later. I went to Fosters Tavern and enjoyed a beer and some potato skins all the while reflecting on my evening. Within half an hour I met one person with the ability to demerit seven billion lives and two people who couldn't pass me without offering to save me what would have been a mere two miles of walking. Clearly I could have easily walked this, but they still were eager to save me the trouble. Equally as obvious was the ease with which the man could have explained he wasn't interested in what I had to say and simply sent me on my way, but instead he took the time to waste mine and break my spirits. After juggling this around in my head for a while it returned to the front of my mind and old oath I once repeated on average at least once weekly. As a Boy Scout I promised to do my best to help other people at all times. Having witnessed such a vast difference in people I am once more reaffirmed to do just that, and to do my best to be the people giving rides instead of the people crushing spirits. Anyway, I just wanted to share this with somebody.
