At the intersection of Vineyard Boulevard (heading ewa) and Aala Street stands a stoplight. Thisparticular stoplight sees heavy foot traffic due to social service agencies and apartments in the area, but a change there has occurred recently that few drivers seem to notice.
A sign was recently added to a sidewalk post that prominently reads, “No right turn on red”. Apparently, safety concerns of pedestrians amid cars turning right on to Aala Street attracted traffic officials’ attention. I admit, I didn’t notice the sign at first, and I turn at this intersection every workday.
Now, since my sign enlightenment, I watch other cars in front of me creep up to the Vineyard red light… and turn, in ignorance, up Aala toward School Street. It dawned on me: isn’t this an example of what ratchets up far too many issues far too often? We see what we want to see; we’re pre-conditioned; we often refuse to see what’s right in front of us (or in this case- what’s right next to us) because of our innate sense of what is, based on beliefs, prejudice, intuition, learned experiences, or steadfast convictions.
There’s an interesting book on this very subject, “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics And Religion”, by Jonathan Haidt. The book was published a decade ago, before the widening American social fractures were so prevalent. One 2013 book review suggested: “… if you’re ready to trade in anger for understanding, read The Righteous Mind”.
I’m not a shill for Mr. Haidt; I haven’t even finished this weighty tome. But the premise that our perspectives will invariably taint even our most mundane tête-à-têtes is a human reality. We might better understand others by allowing their perspectives into our weltanschauung, and not simply rely on our personal, deeply ingrained “moral intuition” (as Haidt calls it).
I’m not suggesting that we become wishy-washy, apolitical, or lower moral barricades (for those who ascribe to moral codes). But discussing/debating while really listening and perhaps learning beats where we’ve gone as a nation (and as a state, on some issues) as we cling to preconceived tenets, pooh poohing anything the “opposition” even suggests, assuming that their underlying motives are to divide, conquer or stake some (a)moral ground.
Bottom line: when you approach a stoplight, look beyond, look around, learn, listen. You may be surprised to find something revealing and/or logical.
Think about it…