Last week we received news of the formation of Citizens Against Burning Stuff Inc. (CABS). We wholly commend this effort – indeed, no one can sensibly deny that the indiscriminate burning of “stuff” should be both prohibited and inhibited.
Not to steal CABS’ thunder, we wish to remind that there is an even more widespread practice, with its own myriad contemptuous practitioners, that cries out for forceful action as well.
We are talking about noise – whether by way of bellowing mufflers, the jarring bark of motorcycles or ATVs, or loud music coming from car stereos or from the residences of unneighbourly neighbours.
Many, including our politicians, do not seem to acutely grasp that such invasion of a fellow citizen’s space fundamentally undermines what it means to be a neighbour, a member of a community.
After all, a major plank of real community is respect for others, especially through respect for their property (which includes their mental space) and their values. If these are absent, there can be no meaningful togetherness.
The loud playing of music in residences deserves special attention. It is a most naked form of disrespect, a trenchant, albeit indirect, way of saying, “I really don’t care about you”.
It is a kind of robbery, too, stealing one’s peace, joy, health, sleep, time, choice, and so on.
And it is a confounding form of trespassing. The player of loud music bursts uninvited into your mental space. Now, if he had set foot on your property, you could justifiably respond with enough physical force to “bring him to human understanding”.
Not with this noisy intruder.
Yet one cannot but feel that those in governance and enforcement have often left the abused to beg and plead with neighbours, to depend on their goodwill, as the “protectors” respond tepidly. Thus the scofflaws feel emboldened.
All parliamentarians and prospective parliamentarians, because of what should be their obvious devotion to the concept of community, should be frequently speaking about and working against this.
And they should be joined in this effort by others. Announcers and radio deejays, whose radio sounds are often the weapons of sonic invasion, are uncomplaining partners with all and sundry (even business places) in these attacks. They could, as a matter of course, say, “Are you respecting other people’s right to quietness in their space?” or “Keep the music low and respectful, people” or something in that vein. Dare we think that they would be so socially responsible?
Preachers, too, should hold forth against this menace. So often, in ungodly disregard for others, Christian preaching or Christian music blares from “houses of God” or houses of God-awful neighbours. Pastor, Reverend, Monsignor, you should be constantly telling your people to let “my” people go. Breathe fire and brimstone, if you like, against your flock’s noisy transgressions. Christians, above all, must love their neighbours.
Noisy actions are engaged in nowadays with such alarming indiscretion and pervasiveness that one can only assume that the perpetrators have come to believe that it is their right.
They must be disabused of that idea by moral suasion, yes, but especially by a robust legislative and enforcement response that sets our faces like flint against such social impudence.
This matter touches the heart of community – and thus nationhood, which is not about every man looking to himself. It is fundamentally about cohesiveness. Self-indulgent, inconsiderate noise is hostile to that concept.
Our politicians must lead the charge against this noise making – by the power of speech and by potent legislation. Reasonable quiet is our right; it’s their duty to ensure it.