There is a problem here, in this state, in this county, in this
country. It involves you, men and women and it effects everyone. In
the past few years, I’ve seen more parents bury their children than
give their children away for marriage. And I’ve had more friends
lose their lives in a blinking twist of metal than I could ever
imagine. There is a problem here
– your problem.
Dear Editor,
There is a problem here, in this state, in this county, in this country. It involves you, men and women and it effects everyone. In the past few years, I’ve seen more parents bury their children than give their children away for marriage. And I’ve had more friends lose their lives in a blinking twist of metal than I could ever imagine. There is a problem here – your problem.
Not even when his brother called me at noon the next day did I think things were going to be OK. An accident, DUI, his best friend ejected from the passenger seat. I assumed the worst, because it’s my defense mechanism, and hours later I was right – Adam Baxter had passed away under the most tragic circumstances.
I was pissed. Not angry with driver, who I still remember playing tether ball with in second grade. Not angry at the red Thunderbird, or that poor, weather-beaten road. Not angry with those who didn’t stop them from driving while intoxicated at 3 in the morning. No, I was mad because I have to go to another funeral-another boy who was taken too soon for a reason so dumb.
This is selfish right? That’s what I thought, I mean, what about the families involved? What else could I do but bake lasagna and leave a number if they ever wanted to call? What could I say to those poor people who have lost their son? What did I say last time, to Jeff’s parents, Ryan’s, John’s? What about those I didn’t even know, just faintly familiar names written in tragic headlines of our local newspaper?
Drinking. Driving. Kids. Cars. Stupidity. There is a problem today, in this state, county, country and you have to do something about it. Young men are dying. Kids are dying. Everyone is suffering because we held our breath, sat on our thumbs, waited by the phone, and let them drive away.
So what can you do? How can you fight something so epidemic, so inconceivably big that it has legislators running out of ink, and mothers getting M.A.D.D.? Well, when it comes to fighting things big or small, at home or abroad, I offer this advice: hit first and hit hard. Don’t let tragedy hit you first.
Unfortunately, the problem is so convoluted no one knows where to hit first. Statistically, car related accidents are the number one killer for people in this country ages 1 to 37, with 40 percent of fatal car crashes involving drugs and/or alcohol (taken from car-accidents.net). Some, but not all, of these drivers needed help. The are signs, red flags in and around our loved ones, and neither emotion nor underlying circumstance should get in the way of that help. We must strike first, hit hard.
Also, there is an education our children are getting outside of the classroom. This is nothing new – everything from Hemingway to “Grand Theft Auto” glorifies a life, a reality, which is false and unhealthy. Whether we know it or not, it is our duty to be aware of whom we harm. Make it your business. Strike first, hit hard.
None of these things are to blame. Beer ads, video games, the media … these things only make up the surrounding circumstances. We are the only ones we can blame. People who drive drunk are the ones to blame. People who choose to ride in cars with drunk-drivers are the ones to blame. I am to blame. You are to blame. Those who don’t value life are the ones to blame.
We are in this together, young and old, the sick and newborn. There is a problem and it is real, and it is here … and it is preventable. Please drive safely.
Matthew J. Laine, Hollister
