THE KNOT IN THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE
The traffic circle in the middle of the town’s square is fairly simple to negotiate; if you stay in your lane and yield to others still in the circle, you are likely to come through unscathed. No muss, no fuss. No harm, no foul. No blood, no hard feelings. Rather than blasting straight through on your rigidly interpreted rights, it is possible to accommodate the rights of others who have someplace else to go. You don’t lose anything materially in these occasional interactions. In fact, you may gain a better insurance rate because you won’t be jammed up in a crash that carries into the fountain. You maintain your privacy and dignity because your picture and name are not in the newspaper or on television. Not to mention the towing fee, rental car costs, and your deductible. All totaled, these are your opportunity costs for a knee jerk reaction to some unholy “other” violating your space.
Oh, but the visceral rush of t-boning another motorist who is early, late, or lost in the traffic circle… the irresistible scent of blood in the water brings out the latent shark instincts in some folks. Ramming speed!!! Stomping the accelerator is so much more thrilling than pumping one’s brakes, though really, it’s nearly the same physical effort involved in either pedal choice. What is different is the motivation of the driver; is it peaceful tolerance or hostile vengeance? Does the driver see an enemy in the circle or a fellow traveler? Only cowards brake for the devil, after all.
Lately there has been a lot of side swiping at the circle inside the square. Many folks with license plates sharing L, G, B, T, or Q have been rammed by righteous road warriors, intent on maintaining their rigid rights. Somehow their intolerance is wrapped in religion and a sense of entitled legacy. Fear and anger at changes in society animate their gas pedal stomps. Other citizens and neighbors are demonized; their freedoms marginalized. The town square has become instead a demolition derby echoing with sound and fury… signifying only bigotry.
One hundred and fifty years ago another highly motivated group of righteous militants marched through Chambersburg. They wanted what they wanted and burned the town down when they did not get it. They had God on their side, states rights, and a legacy of oppressing and enslaving others. Those confederates met their fate in Gettysburg soon after exerting vengeance on Chambersburg. Until recently they were considered to inhabit the wrong side of history.
The burning of Chambersburg was a pivotal event in local history that is celebrated every July. This July will be the second burning, only this time it will be invisible dwellings that are incinerated, temples of humanity. Which side of history will Chambersburg land on in the sequel? That’s the knot in the circle in the square.
burritospecial 