The other night I had to make a quick run to Wal Mart to pick up the economy sized laundry detergent and fabric softener so that when I head back to school on Monday morning, I won't go smelling foul and wearing "unsoftened clothing". I kid you not, the temperature was registering -36 C when I left the house, but the car was soon warm and I was on my way into town. Because of recent developments in the area, about seven years ago, a lovely corner farmhouse and yard was sold, demolished, and replaced by the evil (affordable) Wal Mart. In the last few years, this location has taken over even more precious farmland to become a "Wal Mart Supercenter" (as if that's the answer our community problems!)
However, all those feelings set aside, I have decided to boycott Wal Mart.
Cars, trucks, SUV's, and minivans FILLED the ENTIRE Emergency Access Route that runs in front of the stores doors. Both doors - and in between, vehicles sat idling while their owners or wives ran into the store for a "quick pick up". Now I realize that I am a youngin' in my 20's, but I am too judgmental to think that if I can walk less than a city block from my parked car to the store entrance, that THESE PEOPLE COULD TO? Not one of them had a handicap sticker in their window - I made a point of checking.
Am I wrong to think that the No Parking and Emergency Access Route, No Stopping signs should obviously have drawings that these idiots would understand? Perhaps drawings of stick people burning, or being carried to a stick ambulance?? The frustrating thing is that these people simply don't care. If they only took a moment to think...
... what if it were their loved one who suddenly had a heart attack while shopping, or asthma attack, or some other medical complication? What if the ambulance and paramedics were delayed in getting the life saving equipment to their mom, dad, brother, sister, wife, husband or child?? Would the 45 second walk from the proper parking lot to the door then be such a huge issue for them to undertake?
... what if it were them, inside of the store, when a gunman opened fire? Would they think differently about all those jerks who parked in the path of the RCMP officer that showed up to save their life?
... what if they were inside the store or had family inside of the store when there was a bomb threat and time is of the essence in locating and safely removing the bomb - would they still be so keen to park in the way of the people who would show up to help?
Having worked in a hospital setting, why is it that no one is stupid enough to park their car in the clearly marked ambulance bay, knowing that it's there to help prolong the life of the critical ill or in danger - and yet... they are willing to do so at the local shops? And having worked in the service/tertiary industry, as clerks we regularly practiced the drills for a lost child, a bomb threat, a fire, a medical emergency, and a dangerous customer... I refuse to believe that we spent all that time for nothing. We cared enough about our customers to be prepared, am I supposed to believe that customers don't care enough about each other to give a hoot about saving a life?
The local blood clinic advertises that if you donate your blood, you are saving up to four lives. Perhaps the signs in front of Wal Mart ought to read, "Park where you are supposed to, you could save hundreds of lives; Park Properly Today"
I refuse to believe that this is acceptable; I also refuse to believe that our society is incapable of stranger love and respect of human life, always placing ourselves above and beyond anyone else. Finally, I refuse to believe that this a problem that is unsolvable.
Please speak up. That woman who needs an ambulance and only has moments to continue breathing with oxygen and medical attention is someone's grandmother, someone's sister, someone's best friend, someone's soulmate, someone's wife, someone's mom... and a beloved child of our God.
