July 6, 2017 - It is common knowledge that we, as a society, do not respect the traditions and institutions that made our nation great. For example, a multimillionaire football player can kneel during the National Anthem before a game, and he is applauded by some of his peers and many of the talking heads in government and media.
Living in rural East Texas has insulated us from much of this, but we are not unaffected by the calloused attitude our society has adopted. While driving in a funeral procession recently, I was struck by the number of vehicles that refused to pull over as the hearse traveled down Highway 7.
Some people chose to slow down and pull over to the shoulder, but continue creeping along, as though they need to salvage a few precious seconds while doing what they can to assuage the guilt they feel for not stopping. Others continue down the lane of traffic, traveling at or above the posted speed limit. Is anyone in such a big hurry that they can't be bothered to stop for two minutes as a family escorts the body of a loved one to their final resting place?
The average funeral procession doesn't take long to pass. Is this one of those traditions that slowly fade away as our generation fails to lead by example? I can remember when my mom or dad would pull over, turn down the radio, and instruct my sisters and me to be quiet as the train of cars with their headlights on passed by.
I once asked my dad why we did this. His abrupt reply was simply "Because it's the right thing to do." So, the next time you see a police car leading a train of cars with their headlights on, do the right thing: pull over, come to a complete stop, and show that family a small token of respect as they say goodbye. It won't cost you a dime, and you may actually sleep better that night. You never know when that may be you following the hearse to the gravesite of someone you love.
