A Push.

Civic Allegory #294.

You are part of a group that needs to begin a lengthy journey. Unfortunately, the minivan you’ve acquired to take this journey is stuck in a patch of deep mud. The solution to this problem is not complicated: One of you, the only authorized driver, will take the wheel while the rest of you push from behind. That’s all it needs: The group getting in position, and on an approved signal, pushing the van together while the driver presses the accelerator. 

But one of you refuses to take part in the task. Although they are capable of doing so, they don’t want to get mud on their clothes, they don’t agree with the route that’s been chosen to get to the destination, and for that matter, they wish someone else was driving. 

They’re not altogether wrong. There are other routes to the destination that might be more enjoyable. The driver has had a few fender benders and traffic violations and sometimes you fear for your life when you ride with them on the freeway. The minivan also veers to the right when you loosen your grip on the wheel and it could be way more environmentally friendly.

Nonetheless, it’s the only vehicle you have. 

Some of you argue with the holdout for a moment, but their mind is made up, so eventually you shrug and get back to the task at hand. The remaining members of your group have to push harder. Your sneakers fill with wet soil, your perspiration soaks through your shirt and smells terrible. You develop a bruise on your shoulder where you placed it against the vehicle. But you succeed. You push the minivan out of the mud and are ready, at last, to start your journey. 

The person who refused to help says “See? It didn’t matter. I knew you had this. Let’s go. I call shotgun.” 

And we can acknowledge that it is someone’s right to not take part in an activity that makes them uncomfortable for some personal reason. We will not physically force anyone to push the minivan, even if it seems to us a relatively simple ask compared to other solutions. But it is unreasonable for that person to make demands after the minivan is out of the mud. It is unreasonable to expect deference or respect from those who were not especially pleased with the work but did it anyway. 

It would also be within the rights of some to suggest that this person should have to secure their own transport rather than travel with you at all, but more even-tempered heads should prevail, and leave room in the minivan for them as well. 

As you buckle in, each of you feel varying degrees of joy or misery. But at the very least you can say you’re moving forward again. 

No allegory is perfect and I already know all the ways this can be picked at, mocked, and willfully misinterpreted. As with anything I choose to post here, this is me getting something out of my head to make room for other thoughts. Do with it what thou wilt.