Sunday, 21 August 2011

Don't be a lout - Part III
    The boob at left may be socially retarded, but that impairment doesn't qualify him for the seats Pearson International Airport sets aside for the physically handicapped. Able-bodied, ambulatory and an airport employee, he might be expected to heed house rules. Instead, he sets the contrary example. Taking a coffee break, he parked himself in this nearest seat rather than in any of several dozen non-reserved ones nearby. Not because he wasn't up to walking the extra few steps but because he saw no reason to.
    We may imagine that if someone genuinely handicapped had come along, he might have moved. No such person did, so we'll never know, but we do know that a handicapped person might well hesitate to challenge a trespasser so obviously inconsiderate.
    The lout, alas, is not alone in his attitude that provisions made to lessen the difficulties of the disabled have no relevance to him except as an inconvenience to be ignored. His like are everywhere, from public transport to public toilets, from priority lanes to parking lots, usurping spaces set aside for the less lucky in life.  Do not imitate him. We're meant to think not only of ourselves. It's called civilization.

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