The Milk of Human Kindness

What has happened to people? Recently, I had the opportunity to step back and notice a few individuals interact with their fellow passengers. First, on a business trip, I took a short flight to Albuquerque; no big deal. Everyone reading this has probably flown on a plane at some point and knows the general routine. The plane touches down; the flight attendants welcome you to the city where you just arrived and notify you that it is safe to turn on your cell phones. After a few moments (sometimes), you arrive at the gate when a simple 'ding' alerts you that you may remove your seat belt. At this point, everyone begins to gather their things and then when their turn comes they exit the plane with their belongings. This is the norm. However, this time it was different. As soon as the 'ding' sounded, a large man seated near the back in an aisle seat quickly rose to his feet and began to make his way forward. Other people began to stand and open the overhead bins. The large man began shoving his way past them. Soon he was confronted by another large man that did not want to let him pass. The confrontation escalated past yelling to near blows when it was broken up by several flight attendants. The large man stopped trying to pass other people, but continued to voice his displeasure loudly until exiting the plane.

Driving the streets of a town that I'm familiar with, allows me to not worry so much about if I missed the turn and focus on the scenery. So I'm stopped at a red light in traffic. I look around at the cars that surround me. One in particular catches my senses. That is, of course, because my window was filled with the smoke coming from theirs. Inside their car, the two people in the front seat were smoking their cigarettes like they were on death row; the windows down about two inches to allow them to place their butts outside. In the backseat, a single passenger (not smoking) sits while he is enveloped with cancerous second hand smoke.

I find it interesting to see people act the way they do; to see what they consider 'okay' and how they treat other people. I only hope that no one anywhere out there is blogging about me.