Letters

Many, many years of therapy and counseling have tried to teach me to find the “good” in everything. Most sessions started or ended with the serenity prayer: “Let me accept the things I cannot change.”

Well, the problem with this is the “acceptance” part.

I feel, as a people, we have come to accept that we cannot change the arrogance and entitled behavior of more and more people we come across.

My Sunday morning serenity was met with someone along North Sea Road with a small car parked in two spaces, while another was parked across the street, a large pickup truck, in the “no parking” zone, while also in the travel lane.

To many, this may seem innocent and minor, although it does create a hazardous situation, as there is not enough space for two cars to pass without one yielding to the other; hence, the “no parking” zone.

When the two people were informed of their actions, their response was, “People do it all the time!”

Next, while on line at a deli, a guy steps in front of me and says to the clerk, “I want to order a sandwich!” My response was, “Yup, I just came here to hang out.”

This daily occurrence, from cars passing lines of traffic on the right shoulder of the road, to cars parked in front of the entrance to the supermarket or pharmacy, to the ones you yield to in the crosswalk (only to have them walk diagonally in the travel lane to their car), to the bicyclists and pedestrians who spread out across the street because they feel they have the right to.

I guess the purpose of this rant is to let everyone know that the acceptance of this arrogant and entitled behavior won’t change anything. The time has come to call out those inconsiderate people we encounter every day. When this happens, politely point out to them their deficiencies, as maybe their ignorance is being mistaken for arrogance.

Acceptance of “wrong” does not make it right. This behavior has become too commonplace to be accepted. Please treat each other with courtesy and respect to make a difference.

Richard Berkoski

Water Mill