How callous can we be?!

Yesterday, (while accompanying my brother on one of his jaunts around town), we were caught in this huge traffic jam near Vidhana Soudha...and as the traffic started to clear, there was this scooterist in front of us trying desperately to kickstart his machine...my brother, impatient that he is started honking and swearing under his breath at the hapless scooterist. The scooterist finally managed to veer shakily to the side of the road, and as we passed him I turned around for a glance...I stared into the face of an old man, who looked shaken and unsure. My heart went out to him...I turned around and chided my bro 'tat was an old man' ...he replied 'oh! i didnt know' ...I picturized myself on tat road, old and mebbe even slightly deaf/blind trying to navigate myself through all that traffic..suddenly my vehicle sputters to a stop leaving me to contend with angry horns and rude gestures. What if I were returning home after a particularly bad day? A smile and an understanding glance would go a long way in easing some of that stress. Contrast that with angry horns and unsympathetic gestures...I dunno why I'm making such a big issue (as others would term it) outta this, but the fact remains - we have ceased to care for others. Gone are the days when the elderly were treated with kindness and respect. 

The other day I was shocked to hear this male pal of mine say 'old foggies should stop driving...they should sit at home rolling beads instead' ...callous & downright rude considering the fact that we will also come to that stage someday .. I wonder how we are going to react to insensitive louts around us.  Then there are these vermins who drive around in their swanky 'my dad's benevolence' cars with loud music blaring in the middle of the night with no regard for those that are trying to catch up on some much needed sleep, and the sick.. for whom sleep spells luxury, an escape from pain. Who cares?! Wait! lemme put it in their lingo 'who da f***k  cares?!! and you know why I hate these peabrained idiots? Cus I dont have it in me to protest...like everyone else I feel stifled..I feel its none of my business and that's what makes me wild...the incapability to raise my voice against ppl who have enough green to silence me if need be.  

But someday I'll be old and gray and then I'll wish for someone to protest on my behalf ... mebbe they'll tell me to roll my beads and stay outta their way..mebbe that will be my just reward for not speaking up when it mattered the most.