Years ago I cycled to a party given by an old friend of mine in suburban Rockland County -- thirty-odd miles each way; I was younger and a lot more fit in those days. I could even get away with wearing bike shorts, and did so at every opportunity.
Quomodo ceciderunt potestates.
All the guests were liberal bien-pensants, with Save The Whales and No Nukes and Earth Day stickers on every Volvo (and they were all Volvos). I was the only person who hadn't arrived in a car.
The other guests were initially full of admiration for my pluck and general Green-ness. Then the conversation took the inevitable turn:
Q: But isn't it dangerous? A: Not if you take a lane when you need to.
Oh what a change. I really thought they were going to string me up. Absolute unanimity that I was the biggest asshole ever whelped. Cast a pall over the whole party, and I had to slink out and cycle home early. She's never invited me back.
There was a warm glow in my heart, though, on the thirty cold dark suburban miles home; the glow of a hypothesis confirmed.
-- --
Michael J. Smith mjs at smithbowen.net
http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org http://fakesprogress.blogspot.com http://cars-suck.org
Some fine cliches there. Should be encouraged. Too many damn people trying to be different. Coining phrases when a good platitude would do and save anxiety.