Adelaide Has Revealed My Bigotry
That sounds a little extreme, but allow me to lay before you the case: When I stroll Adelaide around our little town, and I come to a corner and check for traffic, I am keenly aware of how new the oncoming cars are. If they are old or in any way poorly maintained, I am extremely cautious about them, usually letting them drive on even if we have the right of way.
And why do I single out old beat-up cars? I am, of course, cautious with all drivers and their ability to hit my child, but why especially them? Looking into my heart, I realize it is because I think that drivers of old beat-up cars are more likely to be reckless, on drugs, or insane. I think that drivers of old beat-up cars are more likely to run us over because they have less to live for. I realize that this is irrational. I am profiling my neighbors based on perceived economic class. I am a big-old bigot.
I’ve probably always had this prejudice, and Adelaide’s presence in my life has most likely revealed only the tip of my bigotry. There is a theory about racist thought (and it probably has an official name) that describes surface behaviors of racism as a mere slender visible growth with a mighty root system below, i.e. If I act a little bigoted about people in crappy cars, I’m probably brimming with secret, barely-perceived prejudicial thoughts in my heart of hearts.
For me, this is a wimpy and ridiculous variation on the “Mama Bear” phenomenon: A Bible camp counselor I knew as a kid said that she was an avowed pacifist, “except about my kids. If my kids are threatened, I’m like a mama bear- I’ll kill anyone to keep them safe.” I don’t much feel like a mama bear, more like a fearful meerkat, always on the lookout for danger, but not all that sure as to how I’d deal with it.
The thing I’m probably most ashamed of is that I have no urge or plan to turn this thing around. I don’t want to take sensitivity training, I’m not going to try and expose myself to people with crappy cars and learn their point of view, I’m just going to wallow complacently in my narrow-mindedness.
Come to think of it, I drive a pretty crappy car! A 1993 Pontiac Grand Am with two missing hubcaps and a big windshield crack. If I saw myself coming, I’d smile nervously and wave myself on. My bigotry turns inward: I’m a classic case of the self-hating crappy car driver.
Comments
Perhaps you should move to Mackinac Island? Then you only have to fear the occasional horse and buggy or bicycle! As long as those bicycles aren't missing their front basket and the horses are neatly groomed, you shouldn't have anything to be a bigot about there!
Posted by: Kelli | April 26, 2007 5:16 PM
Come to think of it, I drive a pretty crappy car! A 1993 Pontiac Grand Am
Whew! For a minute there, I thought I was going to have to point out the obvious, painful truth! :)
Posted by: J.D. | April 27, 2007 1:20 AM
I traded our 1994 Olds station wagon for a 2000 Dodge Caravan last week. The Olds had 250,000 miles, the windows didn't work, it had lost a bumper in Becker County, and the hatch tended to close suddenly threatening decapitation to anyone loading stuff in the back. I could live with those foibles, but the transmission started slipping badly. So, now I have a newer vehicle and you can pack away your bigotry next time you see us.
Molly
Posted by: Molly Miron | April 27, 2007 10:31 AM
PS Why are you up at 1:20 a.m.?
Posted by: Molly Miron | April 27, 2007 10:31 AM
Wait a minute! Molly Miron has a car in the same decade it was made? A car from the 21st century? Whoa!!
Posted by: Phoebe Miron | April 27, 2007 12:32 PM