Disability of a different kind
Yesterday I was standing in a long queue to board the plane. A man entered the queue in front of me. He had some disability in his leg. He was dragging his leg. I gave him enough space and waited patiently behind him to let him go in his own pace.
A thought struck me that it is not my usual behaviour when somebody jumps the queue anywhere - whether in a bank, movie theater, railway station, in the checkout counter in a super market or even a driver on the road overtaking me when the road is not clear and tries to squeeze in front of me and expects me slow down to accommodate him.
I will not just accept it and let them go. I will show my displeasure, verbally, by a look or a raised eyebrow or honking the horn.
What made me behave differently this time? Is it because of the person’s disability? What if I could understand that people with unacceptable behaviour have an invisible disability? Wouldn’t it make me more tolerant of others?
Isn’t it obvious that people who jump the queue are disabled by impatience, ignorance of the norms, bad manners and self-centeredness?
Is it some kind of an insight? Would I remember this learning next time I encounter such a situation?
yes Itoo had similar thought and experiences. Even here i would have told him that he must request permission to jump the Q. Also there are others behind me who may object saying that he is a friend of mine.
ReplyDeleteRAJAGOPALAN