Starting Points (6)
Michael Ceraolo
In the parking lot across the street
I saw some young people car-surfing
And later I saw some skateboarders
performing some amazing stunts
And I saw (and heard)
many motorcyclists roar by
And all of this was intercut
with occasional bicyclists
And
while I do none of these things,
with the exception of riding a bicycle,
I applaud their self-expression
But none of them was wearing a helmet
This is not to be a screed
against the younger generation,
or
an authoritarian argument
for mandatory helmet laws,
but
an inquiry into the nature of freedom
Aren’t these examples of a childish ’freedom’ ,
an I’m-not-going-to-do-this-and-you-can’t-make-me
(complete with sticking out of tongue),
for I feel safe in saying
that every single one of them would accept
third-party paid health care
for any injuries that might occur
Wouldn’t signing a waiver disclaiming
any intention to accept someone else’s payment
be the sign of a truly adult freedom
that acutally accepts responsibility?
Now multiply this one example
by incorporation, etc.,
and
you come up with the answer
that we need a new starting point
