FWAMBA: Being your brothers’ keeper: A lesson from drunkards
Something crossed my mind tonight. If human beings looked out for one another with the same sense of responsibility that some drunkards demonstrate towards their drinking companions, perhaps the world would be a better place.
I was driving home tonight when, while leaving a supermarket to rejoin the road, I noticed a car approaching from the opposite direction. Several gentlemen inside were frantically waving at me.
Being a good student of Shakespeare and history, I have learnt never to ignore an encounter without first understanding its purpose. Lessons from Julius Caesar have taught me that seemingly ordinary encounters can carry important messages. I rolled down my window to find out what was happening.
In unison, the occupants shouted, “Go back! Alcoblow!”
I smiled and responded, “No worries, gentlemen. I do not take alcohol.” I thanked them, although they appeared somewhat disappointed that their warning had reached the wrong motorist.
As I drove away, one thought lingered. These gentlemen had taken it upon themselves to protect another road user, a complete stranger, from the possible consequences of drunk driving. In their own way, they had demonstrated a sense of collective responsibility.
Isn’t that what being our brother’s keeper is all about?
What if we extended that concern beyond drinking companions? What if we warned one another against danger, intervened when someone was making a destructive decision and offered help without expecting anything in return?
Perhaps society would be better if we cared about the safety and well-being of strangers as much as we care about our own friends.
Of course, the message is simple: do not drink and drive. Protect your life and respect the lives of other road users. If you drink, arrange for a sober driver or use alternative transport. No celebration is worth a life.
Tonight, some gentlemen gave me an unexpected lesson. I was not their intended audience, but their message found its way home.
Perhaps we should all learn to be our brothers’ keepers, even from drunkards.
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