Let’s champion kindness - Obstacles symbolise boorishness

ONCE upon a time, we put people who had broken society’s conventions in stocks in the town square and abused them, physically and vocally. Today’s version of that corporal punishment, or one of them, at least, is unwelcome, degrading exposure on social media.

Those indifferent, selfish miscreants who ignore the needs of others, or who flout the provisions that make life easier for those with physical impairments, are often vilified in the most unexpected, but effective, way. Those who park in spaces reserved for disabled drivers, those who hijack train seats booked by old or infirm people — or pregnant women — or those who block pathways with cars or trucks, and in the most dangerous ways, are shown to the world for what they are — uncaring, boorish, and shameless gobdaws. Naturally enough, that odium is of an entirely heightened nature if the offender is driving a luxury car.

This is World Sight Day and a campaign has been launched to strengthen awareness around how paths blocked inappropriately represent an obstacle course to people with vision impairment. These unexpected obstacles limit freedom of movement and an individual’s sense of independence. It may seem pointless, at a moment when boorishness is often a stepping stone to progress, to suggest that this campaign be given our full support, but it would be one way to champion that timeless value — kindness.