‘Because I wanted to’ is dangerous attitude

It was a warm, sunny, summerlike afternoon this past week, a fine day for a walk along Brandywine Creek Rd. in Newlin Township. The road from Harvey’s Bridge toward Rt. 162 has been one-way for several months due to the fact that the road has been undermined and is falling into the creek.

One section of the road is now only one car length in width. There are plenty of signs warning vehicular and bicycle traffic about the one-way road. “Wrong Way,” Do Not Enter,” “No Bicycles,” “Ride With Traffic” are posted at the exit of the one-way section. As I walked, a couple of school buses, pick-up trucks, and cars passed by me, and then coming toward me going the wrong way was a young woman on a bicycle. “Did you not see the signs?” I asked. “I saw them,” she replied. “Then why…” I began, when she interrupted and said, “Because I wanted to.”

Because I wanted to. Now riding a bicycle the wrong way on a one-way street is not a major infraction, but it is an infraction. That is not the point. What is disturbing was this young woman’s response, more fitting for a 5 or 6 year-old on a playground than an adult. It is the narcissism, the selfish attitude behind the willingness to go against the rules of society that is troubling.

Because I wanted to reflects the all too common attitude that the rule of law doesn’t apply when it inconveniences the individual, or when that individual simply wishes to give in to an impulse. It is a very dangerous attitude to hold; it is unfortunately becoming more pervasive; and it is certainly deleterious to the safety and civility of society.

The reasons for the general disregard to follow rules for the good of the community are many, but that aside, the ultimate responsibility for good behavior rests solely on each and every individual. We live in a critical and very disturbing time. We can either behave as responsible citizens sensitive to the ethical and moral values of a civilized society, or we can give in to juvenile and inappropriate behavior as this young woman did, simply because I wanted to.

RoseLynn Malarek

Newlin Township

The Sandy Hook promise

We have had far too many moments of silence since Sandy Hook. Our children and community deserve real action to stop the epidemic of gun violence in our country. We’re not alone and we’re not helpless. There are many seemingly simple, yet powerful things we can do today! More and more of our neighbors are uniting to bring the change we need. The phones in Congress are ringing off the hook with calls for commonsense gun reform, peaceful rallies are growing in numbers in cities across the country, and families and friends are gathering together in their own living rooms to talk about bringing violence prevention programs to their schools. The movement is growing and we must keep growing it.

There is reason to have hope that we can prevent gun violence before it happens through sensible gun safety laws and programs in our schools and communities that help us identify the signs and signals before a shooting happens and intervene. To keep this hope alive and bring the change we need, I am asking everyone to take two simple actions today.

First, call your member of Congress today and ask that he or she support gun violence prevention legislation to keep guns out of dangerous hands. Secondly, Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org and help bring Sandy Hook Promise’s no-cost, violence prevention programs to our schools and community.

Tracy Bakowski Lincoln University

Fix the sidewalks

I’ve lived in West Goshen for over 31 years but I frequent downtown West Chester often. I can recall when parking wasn’t such a chore and when driving wasn’t so slow and tedious. But forgetting the endless quest for revenue by parking meters and the sloth-like pace of driving in a town of one way streets I must comment on the disgraceful condition of the pavements in this grand old town.

Years ago ( can’t remember how many) they began installing the brick pavements in keeping with the historic nature of West Chester. When new I suppose they were ok. But today they are a mess of broken, uneven, and dangerous rubble that is the scourge of anyone over the age of 13.

Tree roots bulging from the ground dare you to pass without tripping. Broken and missing bricks lure you to near a certain stumble. Gay street in particular is as treacherous as any street I’ve seen in America. Before we add another restaurant. Before we build still another court house. Before we add more apartments to add to the overcrowding in the town, please .... somebody address the sidewalks.

Thomas R. Diaz

West Goshen