THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 24, 1995 TAG: 9508230152
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Our word for the day: deontology - the theory or study of moral obligation.
There are six dogs barking day and night in the neighbor's yard. They are in a fenced-in quarter smaller than the average bathroom, with no shade from trees and provided only with two plastic barrels. They are neglected and are not registered.
A metaphor for our times, our choices, our moral standards. Every neighbor knows this is not right. It is cruel. I know it, and I am by no means an animal ``lover'' or fighter for animal rights. I believe in lab testing, other than for cosmetic products, but take this situation as an example. Practically everyone who hears these dogs must have a bad conscience, but no one does anything.
I am a good old American girl, and I love my country. But since I've been away for three years in Germany, I've gotten a different, truthful perspective of our culture and mentality. This letter is about social responsibility. In Germany, I learned to be socially responsible, not here at home. Due to the sins of the Holocaust, the Germans are extremely self-critical. They constantly ``check'' their actions, laws and responsibilities. This happens at the government level, but also between individuals.
An example: Sitting in a train, forgetting to close the compartment door, I was not only told to close the door, but told that I had been inconsiderate and forgetful, that there were other people on the train and I should be more considerate. My first year I absolutely loathed this behavior. But slowly my American rebellion, that old learned instinct to ``fight for freedom and individuality,'' which closely resembles a teenage attitude, evolved into a more adult approach. The passenger on the train was simply right.
Why should he not say it or ``put me in my place?'' We are all sharing the same space and have an effect on other people, animals and the environment. We are not living in isolation from one another, and we are not living independently from one another in this country.
I think that the American culture is afraid of ``controlling'' the individual. Freedom of choice has become our prized possession, so prized that other values have been pushed down in rank. Consider the results of the right to own a gun.
It is obvious that our culture has become, or perhaps always was, critic-shy. Why are we so reluctant to say directly, ``That's wrong!''? Our communication style is indirect, at the workplace and in our personal relationships. How many people have you heard say, ``You may try this, I mean if you'd like. It's just a suggestion, OK?'' Why are we tiptoeing around?
Back to the hounds. I am calling the Humane Society on this one. Someone has got to open their mouth and vocalize their thoughts and listen to their conscience. A lot of things are happening around us that we are passively accepting. What's happening in Croatia? What does deontology mean?
Marcia Neff
Starcher Court
Suffolk Delivering assistance
This is to express my thanks to a Domino's Pizza delivery driver in Suffolk, unknown by name to me, who didn't hesitate for a minute to offer his assistance when I needed it.
On Saturday, Aug. 12, my car broke down on Moore Avenue, off Pinner Street. I think he might have been in the car right behind me when my car cut out. He immediately pulled over and offered assistance, allowing me to use his car phone. I know pizza delivery drivers are on a schedule, and for him to take the time to stop overwhelmed me so much that I wanted to let people know, especially the driver, how truly grateful I am.
S. Pendleton
White Marsh Road
Suffolk by CNB