Today We Give Thanks, July 2006
Letters from an old hippy #7

We are gathered here today to remember those who gave their lives.
Those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those who were cruelly cut down
in their prime.

Today we give thanks

We remember those who gave their lives for the convenience of othres,
those who died so that someone else could have a few drinks before
driving, those who mistakenly thought that it was safe to walk across
a pedestrian crossing, those who naively assumed that a red light was
enough to stop a motorist.


Today we met to commemorate those who have given their lives for the
convenience of others. We remember those cyclists who have made the
ultimate sacrifice so that others can send text messages without
pulling over, can drive home after a few drinks, or drive faster than
is safe. We remember that it is more important to be relaxed and
comfortable than alive, that faster is always better and that a few
lives don't matter very much in the overall scheme of things. Above
all, we remember that every road is a toll road.


Notes:

A woman in Melbourne a couple of years ago killed a cyclist as she was
driving while sending a text message. She got a one year suspended
sentence and lost her licence for two years.

Eugene Mcgee ran down a cyclist in South Australia after a "long
lunch", and because he is an ex-cop was "smart" enough to hit and run,
turning himself in to the cops some hours later when his alcohol level
had dropped and he'd talked to his lawyer. Case is ongoing, there may
be an enquiry.