When Tsunami happened in 2011, the manner of the Japanese victims was brought up in the news. They lined up patiently to get the emergency supply without fighting each other, which was praised by many people over the world.
One day I was in a crowded cafeteria with my family. There was a group of people ahead of us, looking for sheets for 6 or so. One table was about to become empty. My husband started rushing to the table and so did they. I stopped him saying they came first so let them take it. Then he said if I were like this, I would end up standing forever. Knowing him enough, I just ignored his temper and told him everyone was waiting and they were there before us so let them take it, exactly like I would tell my children.
Not long time after another table became available and we could happily sit at it.
This incident reminded me a lady I used to know. She was a serious religious person and talking about the God all the time. She went to the church every Sunday and was always willing to help people. She was always trying to help us.
One time I was with her in the car at a parking lot. She pulled the car into the stuff-only parking. I said we should park somewhere else (and there was a plenty of empty spots). She said it was closer to the entrance. I said they reserved the spots for stuff for reasons. She told me it was the crap of bureaucracy (or something like that). They were empty anyway so it wouldn’t be a big deal to park one of them.
I know however if someone parks at the disability parking without the permission, she who has the disability card gets really upset. Hey, the parking lot was empty anyway. She won’t take such an excuse at all.
I am not trying to criticize those people lacking the manners and morals. I just wonder why those kind, nice, loving people like my husband and the lady I know can do such a heartless thing without any hesitation.
Actually they don’t think what they are doing is ‘heartless’. It is just my interpretation. They probably think I am too naïve. For them it is the necessity for survival, self protection or the right they should insist.
But, it is more than immoral. It is heartless and/or thoughtless in my opinion.
I am not saying we should follow the all rules. I bent rules depending on the situation, too.
However, if someone else is waiting for the table before you, you should not steal his spot. If a parking spot is reserved for someone and you don’t have any serious reason to park there other than your laziness, you should not take it. What if you are waiting for something and someone else came after you takes it? How about you reserve the parking spot for emergency and someone parked there just because it is usually open? If I were them, I would be upset and sad. I don’t like to hurt others for no good reason, so I try not to. If you don’t have any feeling to hurt others, you are heartless.
I suspect this is the matter of imagination. Lacking the imagination, you don’t have any respect.
In dreams Begin the Responsibilities – I learned this title of a book recently. The story itself will be interpreted by each reader, but when I saw this title, I thought of the power of imagination.
If you don’t have any imagination, you don’t have any compassion. You don’t have a chance to understand someone else’s feelings and emotions. Without imagination, you don’t see the complex of our world based on the mutual influence. You don’t appreciate the existence of others.
Without feeling anything for anyone, you don’t understand the responsibility. Responsibility happens when you realize you are not the only one. So does the happiness.
In Japan, we have been taught to think of others rather than ‘be good’. Imagine and think. Feeling the others vividly has much more influence than being taught what you are supposed to be.
It may make me naïve in a way, and imagination also confuses you. But I still appreciate my ability to imagine.