R U 4 PEACE?

 ARE YOU FOR PEACE?  ...Everywhere?

Well, sure, of course.
Are you ready to make peace?  You may have to make some changes in your own life. Are you ready for that?
Uh, whatcha mean?
Here's the thing... True World Peace is not just about nations refusing to fight wars against each other. It means that we humans (as individuals) care about each other...
You mean, even my knuckle-head brother-in-law?
Maybe he's just doing the best he can. We're not all as smart as you, ya know. But let me get to "Road-Peace."

"Road-Peace?"

That's right, "Road-Peace." I can't think of a better place to start making peace than on the road, where we all know that our lives are in each others' hands. Can you?
I'm with you. So, if we all act nice to each other on the road, then we have "Road-Peace."
Basically. We need to realize that it will not always be easy to be kind and thoughtful and forgiving...

Forgiving?

Right, forgiving... like when someone does something that really gets your goat, you know?

Like yesterday, when this guy cut me off?

What do you mean, cut you off?

Yeah. Like I'm driving along, when suddenly, this guy pulls right in front of me, and I felt pretty whizzed off!

He practically ran you off the road? ..with not even signalling?

Oh, no. There was plenty of room, and I think he did signal.

What happened then?

He got off at the next exit.

I see. I guess I'm more literal than most folks. When I think of being "cut off," I'm really being "Cut Off." If I'm trying to get  into the right lane, so I can take the next exit, and other drivers see my signal and speed up to get in the way... that's what I call, "Cut Off!"

Wow! I see what you mean. Do you forgive them?

Sure, but it can be really challenging. Especially the one that was right behind me, who moved over to the right and sped up... or when a parade of tail-gaters... I mean, It's hard not to believe that they are deliberately being rude. But, they have no way to know if I'm forgiving them or not. Forgiveness of others benefits me, more than it does them.

Right. That way, you don't hold in all those negative feelings... the kind that can make you crazy.

You've got it. They might even be trying to get me angry... as though more angry drivers on the road is a really swell idea...

I guess they think it's a lot of fun to play mind-jerk games, on the road. They seem to crave the attention of another driver, speeding up to catch up and make faces.  Forgiving them gives me the pleasure of disappointing those characters.  Another driver, who cares less than I do about survival, will play that game, and if they both kill themselves... I chalk it up to Darwin.

Darwin?

Right. Survival of the fittest, on the road, means survival of the kindest and wisest and most attentive... those who want "Road-Peace," which is a step on the road to World Peace.

Visit road-peace.com to help spread the message.  (...also on Facebook)

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One of the most important elements of true peace is... caring for each other (and ourselves). We can do that, right now, by signing petitions, provided by Causes.org:  Release grieving Mother of hit and run + install a crosswalk

Change.org| Start an Online Petition »

SURPRISE! - "ROAD PEACE" in U.K.

"SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!"
-Gomer Pyle, USMC

(re-edited, March 10, 2010)
The new year is starting off with lots of surprises... for one, the term "road peace" has been thought of by others. In the U.K. there is a site called RoadPeace.org. It calls itself a "charity providing support for victims of road crashes and campaigning for justice, road safety and road danger reduction." You may want to check it out, especially if you have connections in the U.K.

Another surprise regarding "road peace" is the fact that the UN Road Safety Collaboration is also in the act.

Yet one more "road peace" piece is this piece from The Philipines.

Still more surprises... I found not one, but two activists in my area. Well, one led to the other, actually, but it feels wonderful to think that there can be allies close enough to entertain the idea of getting some "face time." The first is a television producer who focuses on pedestrian safety. In his response to my email, he sent a link to this blog by a visually impaired pedestrian.

Other great news: My brother, the talented nature photographer, gave permission for me to play with one of his photos. (It is one of my favorites, and can be seen on the site.) Soon, it will be available as poster, t-shirt, etc. It will look something like this...


The first time I saw the photo in the poster, above, I thought about the issue of child safety, and how kids get killed in the driveway, which is one of the big issues at kidsandcars.org. They also are very concerned about the tragedy of children being left in locked cars, where they die of heat stroke. Here is a touching story from The Washington Post.

Please, remember to check out the store... Among other things, you can find this key chain reminder-

DANGERsign by gridlocksmith
More Gridlocksmith Keychains

Get good deals at Zazzle by signing up for their emails. You will get the word when they have special discounts or free shipping.

"Life is sweet, you may find,
If you are... always kind."
-gridlocksmith

VisualizeRoadPeace.. by gridlocksmith
See more Visualize road peace drive gently and kindly Bumper Stickers

Be safe, and help move us closer to World Peace
by driving for "road peace."

For a Pleasant Ride-Put Emotions Aside

Important Advice:

If a loved one is upset and storms off to the car to blow off some steam, you may want to prevent another angry driver entering traffic. If prevention is not in the cards, the car keys could be attached to something like this...

DANGERsign by gridlocksmith
More Gridlocksmith Keychains


REMEMBER:

PEACE on EARTH
Begins with
PEACE on the ROAD.
("road peace")