How can we love that which we hate?
By Cimone
Is this a safe space? Because I have a confession. As a law-abiding citizen, there are certain laws that I absolutely hate. I even believe that there are certain laws that make people want to do the exact opposite of what they are told. So, I find myself in a conundrum, caught between those who are law abiding citizens, and those who do the very minimum, faking their civic duties, until they get caught.
Let’s take speed limits as an example. Is there anyone who actually drives 55 miles per hour on the highway? Is 65 MPH fast enough to get you where you’re going? Can you imagine taking a ten-hour road trip and doing the speed limit the entire time? Who wants to or is even capable of doing that? All the blue lights on the side of the interstate would indicate there are few among us.
So what do we do instead? When driving on the highway, we’ve learned to constantly check the medians, emergency lanes and gores for the police. Because, admit it, we’re all speeding. But we tell ourselves, it’s only speeding if you get caught. We reason internally that speeding is relative, and only those driving faster than the average we’ve all set, deserve to get caught.
Whenever I’m driving on the interstate and pass by a fallen commuter, trapped by those blue lights, I can’t help but notice the look of disgust on their face as they wait for the ticket sure to be the size of a car payment. All the “law fakers” passing by, heed the cautionary tale, if only for a moment, before resuming their speed once safely away from the officer. I’ve even said it myself- “Poor guy, I better slow down because “they” are out here. Nothing is more irritating than being stopped for a traffic citation and hearing those dreaded words “Do you know why I stopped you?”. I mean really, what should be the response, “because I was driving like a bat out of hell!”
Now herein lies the honesty of the problem that exists. Here is the question that we must really ask. If law abiding or law faking citizens absolutely hate the laws, then how in the world can they like or love the ones that enforce them, especially, if they feel unfairly targeted by them or disproportionately affected by them. If a citizen’s first or only encounter with law enforcers are based upon a disdain for the laws that they are required to enforce, then citizens have no other choice but to have a disdain for both the law and law enforcers. It also seems as if citizens are saying that those same laws are being enforced in a manner that are designed to denigrate, debase, and obliterate the moral consciousness of those for whom they were designed. I had to ask myself the question, when was the last time that an enforcer, please forgive me, Officer, convinced me that he or she was there just to simply show all the “goodness” and “caring” for law that they upheld.
We must acknowledge that people are not governed by the laws that are created by the land; people are governed by the principles in their minds. Despite the signs declaring the speed limit, and the possibility of a citation, the law is not greater than their desire to obey or disobey it. So maybe the laws are the problem? It seems as if citizens are resoundingly crying out that, until both laws and law enforcers represent a just body, one that protects everyone equally, they will never generate a willing obedience of the law. They will never create a “love” for the very things that reflect “hate,” the hate that is encapsulated in both the laws and the law enforcers.
Will I continue to drive 55 or 65 miles per hour? Will I continue to obey the law? As simple as the legal requirement is, I dare say that I will remain in adherence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an anarchist and I certainly believe that there is a need for laws that reflect the protection and care for its citizens; however, as long as there are laws that are biased and there are law enforcers that enforce them with bias, then there will always be a disdain against the laws and law enforcers. Until then, citizens must continuously make efforts in deciding what they want both their laws and law enforcement to look like. And maybe then, the principles that govern us will align with the laws that do the same. It is not unimaginable, that we will grow to appreciate the law when those who enforce it truly hold everyone’s best interest at heart. However, until we bridge that divide, it may simply be impossible for our citizens to “love” the very things they “hate.”