Tuesday, September 27, 2005
As I walked out last evening...
Last week, I bought some Teva sandals, which have been dubbed "neo-hippie environmentalist" sandals.
Last night I took a walk down to the gas station to pick up something caffeinated. I was just strolling along the side of the road, and these deer started to walk across down by the railroad tracks. I enjoyed the moment. A pickup turned from M-99 onto Fayette driving towards the deer. There wasn't much of anything I could do, so I paused and watched as the driver slammed on his brakes and skidded to a halt. The deer turned around and hopped off the road. The truck started to move, and through the roar of the engine and bar-throb bass, I heard "get outta the road, asshole!" At first, I thought he was talking to me. I hoped he was. I could handle this.
- Cool. I'll rise above that.
- The world owes me everything!
- You just need to relax, man.
- You should use the sidewalk, ASSHOLE!
- Fine, you win.
But then it occurred to me that the driver was actually yelling at the deer. The ridiculousness of it was staggering, but at the same time, I wasn't in his way. The deer was. I was shocked first, then angry. Why was he yelling at a deer? I wanted to catch the guy stopped at a traffic light. (I had it all planned out.) Open his door, yank him out a bit, slam the door on his soon-to-be-unconscious body dangling out of the seat, then throw his keys in the gutter. Maybe rip off his NRA sticker...I dunno. Probably wouldn't make a lot of difference. I should relax.
But how retarded! Do we really think a deer knows any better? It's almost like, I assume you can understand me - understand that my reprimand will affect a change in your moral fiber. Maybe I'm looking into this too much, in light of my discussion with Silliman about total-Creation redemption (or whatever it's called). But I think of all creation - deer, in this instance - in those terms. Not that a deer can morally aright himself, but that deer will be redeemed along with mankind at the end of it all. The consequence of such a believe leads to a form of Christian environmentalism I'm starting to adopt. More on this later.
Currently listening to:
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Jacksonville City Nights
¶ 8:20 PM 
Last night I took a walk down to the gas station to pick up something caffeinated. I was just strolling along the side of the road, and these deer started to walk across down by the railroad tracks. I enjoyed the moment. A pickup turned from M-99 onto Fayette driving towards the deer. There wasn't much of anything I could do, so I paused and watched as the driver slammed on his brakes and skidded to a halt. The deer turned around and hopped off the road. The truck started to move, and through the roar of the engine and bar-throb bass, I heard "get outta the road, asshole!" At first, I thought he was talking to me. I hoped he was. I could handle this.
- Cool. I'll rise above that.
- The world owes me everything!
- You just need to relax, man.
- You should use the sidewalk, ASSHOLE!
- Fine, you win.
But then it occurred to me that the driver was actually yelling at the deer. The ridiculousness of it was staggering, but at the same time, I wasn't in his way. The deer was. I was shocked first, then angry. Why was he yelling at a deer? I wanted to catch the guy stopped at a traffic light. (I had it all planned out.) Open his door, yank him out a bit, slam the door on his soon-to-be-unconscious body dangling out of the seat, then throw his keys in the gutter. Maybe rip off his NRA sticker...I dunno. Probably wouldn't make a lot of difference. I should relax.
But how retarded! Do we really think a deer knows any better? It's almost like, I assume you can understand me - understand that my reprimand will affect a change in your moral fiber. Maybe I'm looking into this too much, in light of my discussion with Silliman about total-Creation redemption (or whatever it's called). But I think of all creation - deer, in this instance - in those terms. Not that a deer can morally aright himself, but that deer will be redeemed along with mankind at the end of it all. The consequence of such a believe leads to a form of Christian environmentalism I'm starting to adopt. More on this later.
Currently listening to:
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Jacksonville City Nights
¶ 8:20 PM
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I would be down with you punishing the guy for yelling at the deer ... IF you could tell me you never yelled at an inanimate object or lower creature out of frustration. You have never yelled at your computer? Swatted at and snapped at a fly or bee to leave you alone?
How do you call a deer an asshole though? It implies a certain belligerence on the deer's part. And no, I couldn't really justify myself hurting the driver. But that was my first reaction.
I suppose it DOES imply a certain degree of intent on the part of the deer. :) ... I was just yanking your chain anyway.
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