No more stupid stunt shows, please.
Between the festivities going on at the lake over the July 4th holiday weekend, juxtaposed between thoughts of visiting with family members, preparing the many barbecue lunches and dinners, a memory stands out. I’m only glad it’s a mildly disturbing memory – not a horrific one.
Not only was I standing there, mouth agape in horror watching this – my guests were as well. At any moment, the slightest dip in the pavement or an animal running into the street could have meant tragedy. How would a young man with no helmet, no shirt even, on a speeding motorcycle fare against pavement? How would the helpless bystanders, who didn’t even want this daredevil show, deal with watching the tragedy unfold? Thankfully, nothing happened. Yet, to my dismay, this same young man went past our property in this same standing-on-the-seat teetering-against-disaster manner at least once more that day and I saw him do it again a few days later.
Also, since then, I’ve seen four wheelers fly by on two wheels, a motorcycle zip down Lincolnway in Etna Troy Township on one wheel and a few wild stunts by folks on scooters. Most of the time, they’re not wearing helmets. Every time I see these stunts, I say a little prayer, hoping I don’t have to witness something horrifying in the next moment. I have to wonder why I keep seeing these stunts -- I haven’t paid for the show.I realize there are probably more vehicles like this on the roadway due to current gas prices. I realize that riding a motorcycle, ATV or scooter without a helmet is the rider’s prerogative. I also realize everyone isn’t smart, but everyone should try to be safe – if not for their own sake, but maybe also for the sake of those watching. My children don’t need to see stupid stunts and they really don’t need to see a tragic disaster happen before their young, impressionable eyes. I don’t want to see it either.
I hope the next time I see a stunt like those mentioned above, I’m at the circus. At least there I know it is being performed by a professional and that it’s quite unlikely someone is going to get hurt…or worse.