LAST week, when my wife and I were commuting towards our work, we saw an ambulance who was trying to find a way towards a bad morning traffic situation. More than the seemingly panicking ambulance driver who repeatedly blew his horn for cars to make way, what caught our attention was a scene of a dying man being given a CPR. I am not sure if that man was able to reach the hospital and got the medical attention he needed. But if he did not live, the painful reality should awaken our senses and make us all realize that we killed that man.
More than the respect of traffic rules, what we lack is a sense of humanity and courtesy. I can still remember several instances when my wife and I would cross the streets and how motorists would have the audacity to disregard us who are faithfully crossing the pedestrian lanes. This may seem like a petty concern to some, but commuters like me fight for our lives every time we cross the streets.
This made me realize that while it is true that our traffic situation in the city is becoming more problematic each day, what becomes more apparently a growing concern is our attitude which seem to disregard the welfare of other people.
But this is also true with those commuters who disregard rules and regulations. While it is the right of every individual to feel safe and secure, all rights come with responsibilities. We need to be responsible enough to cross where there is a pedestrian lane, to use the overpass even if it is tiring to do so, to do something as basic as “stop, look, and listen.”
This brings me to the concept of citizenship. Most often than not, we use this word to mean a certain status of belongingness. But more than a status, citizenship entails a vocation to be of service and an inspiration for others to be better individuals for their community. It can be a powerful force that can drive individuals to think and contribute meaningful changes in the community.
To think therefore of citizenship as a status is quite dangerous since it brings people to greater feelings of entitlement rather than responsibility. The more entitled they feel, the more careless they can become.
I hope that the “Hapsay Dalan” of our mayor be enforced even more so that we would have better, more secured, and safe road situations in the city. But more than anything else, I hope that our attitudes be that of a good citizen who is less entitled and more willing to think of the welfare of the other members of our community.