Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

If you don't want want die in an automobile accident then don't travel in
automobiles.  Yes, we should try to make cars safer, but beyond that what
does this guy want us to do - make cars illegal?

				-- Bob

    The author offers no solution.
    
    As I've stated elsewhere, I think the answer is to voluntarily put
    fewer motor vehicles on the road.  An absolutely subversive idea,
    isn't it?
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    I confess I do not understand the base note authors point. All
    death is a tragedy but that doesn't make them intentional.

    RE: .2 Putting fewer cars on the road sounds nice. We could all
    live in tight little cities were we don't have to travel and
    where privacy and personal freedom goes away. No thank you. I
    lived in a city most of my life. Going back to it may not be
    worse than death but it is not a happy thought. The risk of dying
    in a car is not too bad a price to be happy. Besides cities are
    more dangerous in other ways.

    There are ways that we could drive less of course. Some of them are
    beneficial to society as well. We could support people working from
    home. I'm at home now and can do most of what I do at the office. If
    I had a workstation and high speed modem I could do even more. But
    managers don't always trust people they can't see.

    BTW. Does the person who wrote the basenote article drive? 

    			Alfred

Note 291.3
    Alfred,

>   All
>   death is a tragedy but that doesn't make them intentional.

	It seems to me that we're not completely absolved of the responsibility
    for a death even when it is unintentional.

>    BTW. Does the person who wrote the basenote article drive? 

	Yes.  Most of the time, a bicycle.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    The people who die or are injured in car accidents are not always
    the drivers or passengers.  A friend of mine, a UM ordained minister,
    was killed earlier this year in a crosswalk as he was walking to dinner.

    Allow me to articulate a few possibilities:
    
    1. Don't own a car.  Granted, this is not always possible.
    
    2. Drive less.  Granted, this is not always possible.
    
    3. Make fewer trips.  Granted, this is not always possible.
    
    4. Carpool wherever possible (even if inconvenient).  Granted, this
       is not always possible.
    
    5. Utilize public transportation.  Granted, this is not always possible.

    None of these are the complete answer.  At best, they might lower the
    number of deaths and injuries that occur.

    Is your incovenience worth sparing a few lives?  That's between you and
    your conscience.

    Peace,
    Richard

    RE-1

    Richard, 
    	    no disrespect intended, but this whole thing is a little
    ridiculous.
     
    People of faith don't see death as an end. 

    It seems a little ridiculous to have a guilty conscience for the deaths 
    of people in auto accidents because we drive cars.

    Life would be pretty miserable if I had to live with guilt every time
    someone is killed in an accident. People have died on construction 
    jobs. Should we stop living in buildings ?

    Peace
    Jim

    Richard,
    
    Having been in a car accident involving a fatality (the person I was
    engaged to), I've experienced first hand just how devastating that can
    be.  However, I still drive and ride in automobiles.  I'd like to see
    more research into solar powered vehicles, but in the meantime I see
    the necessity of cars.  There were many accidents in the days of horse
    and buggies too...
    
    Ro
    

    The automobile has benifited manfind greatly. It has made many many
    previously unobtainable things possible. Those that want to go back
    to a simpler time...should study the previous ,pre-automobile
    time carefully.
    
    The good old days were not. Read some history...i.e. "Everyday 
    People" by Jack Larkin.
    
    Marc H.

OK, ok...I know when I'm licked.  I shall not pursue this particular string
any further.  You would all be doing me a big favor if you would not pursue it
either.

My parting comments:

I do own a gas-guzzling American-built van, myself.  It would be impractical
for me to do otherwise, not merely inconvenient.

I'm really not in favor of banning all motor vehicles or placing severe
restrictions on ownership.

I never indicated that I desired to return to pre-automotive times, as some
have implied.  I don't see the use of equines as a viable alternative.

I, too, do not see death as an end.  However, since I choose life and light
over death and darkness, I'm not going to do anything which might expedite
the event of death without some *very* careful and prayerful consideration.

Peace,
Richard

    The trouble with cars is the way people seem to drive them. Often
    faster than speed limits, with no thought for other road drivers.
    Sometimes under the influence of alcohol, with disastrous results.
    
    To own a car is still a status symbol, a mark of wealth etc. Trouble
    is, cars are damn convenient!
    
    Here in Reading, in England, traffic is a problem. I would cycle, but
    the roads look treacherous for a cyclist. I could use a bus, since one
    goes from home to work, but the lack of convenience cuts in here.
    
    I do walk into town, since parking in Reading town centre is
    ridiculous! Besides, I'm not that far away! I'd walk to work if it was
    closer.
    
    As an aside, I remember walking from the Sheraton hotel next to
    Spitbrook in Nashua. It's actually a very pleasant walk, but what
    struck me was nobody else was on the path (sidewalk?). Plus, it
    disappeared at certain points, making me think I wasn't really expected
    to walk...
    
    Pete.

	Before we leave this topic, if we do in fact leave it, I should like 
	to note that a great deal of the car deaths are directly attributed
	to drinking and driving. Drinking alcohol is something I have never
	understood. Morality etc aside it is illogical. If people are really
	interested in seeing automobile deaths decline they will work for the
	prohibition of alcohol. Or at least more restrictions on it.

	I'm serious BTW. I see no good in the legalization of alcohol. The
	situations that made it acceptable in Jesus day, the absence in many
	cases of safe healthy alternatives to drink, are no longer valid.

			Alfred

    re: -.1
    
>	interested in seeing automobile deaths decline they will work for the
>	prohibition of alcohol. Or at least more restrictions on it.

>	I'm serious BTW. I see no good in the legalization of alcohol. The
    
    I believe this was already tried during the 1920's and it was called
    the 'Prohibition.'  One of the greatest advocates of it was Henry Ford,
    who was also known responsible for filling this country with thousands
    of automobiles.  But eventually it was a failure and it was discontinued. 
    So, restriction of alcohol or drugs really isnt the answer.  Neither is
    restricting cars.  Cars if used responsibly are extremely useful for
    many things.  Like anything else, if used irresponsibly can cause great
    harm.