Sometimes ago, an accident occurred on a major high way and it involved two road users; a man and a woman. It was an avoidable accident but it happened nonetheless. The man was driving right behind the woman, following her beautiful vehicle at a moderate pace and speed. Suddenly, the woman pulled over the road, neglected the trafficators and the unsuspected man - driver hurriedly slammed his car's break to avoid a grave damage. Despite the heavy screech from the slammed break the car didn't stop until it slightly hit the woman's car, breaking her bold back light! Just before the crowd could gather at the scene the parties exchanged some vituperative statements as follows:
Woman: Mr. Man are you blind, crazy or what? When you know you ain't man enough to drive why are you on the road? I would show you ... ( she went on raging, spitting fire,chanting multiple words simultaneously and lambasting the man)
Man: Hey, Madam! ( interrupting her rudely) I think you are sick. Yeah! I think you are being psychotic! You suddenly pulled over from the high way without any initial signal, caused this scene and yet you are arguing! Who you be self?
What a day! Well, the woman knew she was at fault but failed to accept that fact. If she had, perhaps the situation wouldn't result to such a mess. However, both of them have a duty of care towards each other. It is expected that a driver (especially on a major road) should give a necessary traffic signal to other road users before switching sides but the woman didn't. Similarly, a driver that follows another vehicle is saddled with the responsibility to maintain a reasonable pace to prevent hitting the car s/he follows. In the instant case however, the accident wouldn't have happened if the woman gave the necessary signal.
So, what do you do when you are at fault in any conflict? The above illustration is just an example. Conflicts, fights, and accidents happen daily but when you know that you are at fault do you accept your mistakes and make amendments or stand to defend same and shift blames even when it would turn to a bigger mess. Accepting your fault to make amendment don't make you less but defending your errors to shift blames shows you are less.
Ed. 9
Tunde, OGUNYALE
For Peacepace Initiative... towards peace.
*Anticipatepeacepacevirtualconference*
