i think people as a whole are good, though at times it may be difficult to see. but certain situations present themselves that illuminate the benevolence and spirit of the human race. i remember reading a number of articles after September 11th that discussed the image of the cold, impersonal New Yorker being shed in place of the inspiring character revealed in the face of tragedy. Similarly, people have shared stories describing the generosity in rebuilding New Orleans after the destruction the city experienced. And while such dire times call for the strength of our people, certain more trivial occurrences transpire every day that show us what kind of people we are. I think I witnessed one such moment this past summer while driving with my girlfriend, Tiffany, to Texas. We were driving down a stretch of highway where road construction had necessitated closing one of two lanes of traffic, creating a long merging traffic jam. Signs miles in advance instructed drivers to merge into the left lane, and most complied, forming a single file line of slowly moving cars leading into the lane closure. But while most merged into the left lane at the site of the warning signs, a few bad apples decided to continue to drive in the restricted right lane up until the last barricade, then cutting into the left lane ahead of everybody else who followed the rules and waited their turn. it was kind of annoying to sit in the left lane, going about 15, and watch cars in the right lane refuse to merge into the left after having been instructed to do so and whiz by at 50 so they could cut in front of everyone. but what can you do. just then, a tractor trailer, up ahead in the distance near the lane closure, got into the right lane, blocking these speeding cars from driving past him and cutting to the front. taking his lead, the cars behind the truck sped up so that there was not enough room for the car now stuck behind the truck to cut into the left lane that the truck had vacated. so they drove like this, with the truck in the right lane with a line of cars blocked behind him, and the cars in the left lane saving his spot for him, until they came to the lane closure, where the truck was given his spot back and all the cars trying to cut ahead were stuck. it’s the little things sometimes that show you what kind of people we are. we’re good people.
