Insanity in the circle

By ERIC WADE

Insanity in the circle

           Getting off southbound U.S. 23, on to Geddes Road I approached the roundabout on my way to class at Washtenaw Community College, and I knew I was in trouble.

                Most days it’s a glance left and a zip around the two circles and I’m almost to school. Noticing a beat up red car two spots in front of me breaking heavily without any cars coming from the left, I knew this was going to be challenge. The jalopy slammed on their breaks for the yield sign. The driver behind the red car paying more attention to the clear opening on the left, and not expecting the red car to stop nearly rear ended the red car. This should have been the end of the troubles, but when the red car gathered enough courage to enter the roundabout, they decided to be nice. The driver stopped for the other drivers waiting to enter. Traffic gathered behind me. The system broke down and came to a crawl.

               Roundabouts work smoothly or they quickly become chaos, depending on the other drivers trying to use them. I’ve had so many close calls from other drivers darting out in front of me that I’ve thought about having one of those big metal moose bumpers installed on my truck.

State of Michigan

               Roundabouts are easy, efficient and safe, yet aggressive, inpatient and ignorant drivers make them agonizing to use.

           The concept of  Roundabout are simple. It is a circle with cars traveling in a clockwise direction. Those not in the circle wait for a break in traffic to enter. Handy yield signs are even provided to let drivers know they don’t need to stop if traffic is clear.

           So what’s the problem?

           Foreign and different from what drivers know; roundabouts are intimidating to some. It’s terrifying to do something new. Changing jobs, meeting new people, diving into the deep end of the pool when we don’t know how to swim, it can be scary for some. Roundabouts are the same, but if they’re between a driver and work, school, or wherever, They need to be used or avoided which could add minutes and miles to the trip.

           Ignorance plays another major part in the calamity that plagues roundabouts. Normally found in parking lots, old city neighborhoods, and low traffic areas, the yield sign is somewhat of a rare sign to begin with. Put that sign in high traffic roundabouts and chaos ensues.

            Not all, but the few that don’t know how to use a yield sign, adds to the frustration of other misfortunate drivers stuck behind the clueless. With colors of red and white being the same as a stop sign, and a mere additional letter to the wordage, I can see the confusion. But, with the similarities ending there, the yield sign is a triangle, so to you geometrically impaired that is an astounding five less sides. Unlike the word stop, which clearly means to cease from or discontinue, or face traffic infraction, the yield sign means that if there is no other traffic that affects you then you don’t have to stop at all. Stopping unexpectedly when there aren’t cars in the traffic circle, could cause a rear-end collision.

           Yield, a helpful acronym to remember, You’re Impeding Everyone's Lovely Drive. It’s a stupid acronym, but it’s all I could come up with, but there’s no reason to stop when there isn’t traffic.

           Perhaps it’s not even the sign, but the word yield that Is the cause of the trouble. The word yield not only means to wait, but in a sense means to admit defeat, and we all hate to lose. Maybe there needs to be another sign for roundabouts. Something that fits the thought of “it’s okay you were here first.” Maybe the sign should say “after you”, or “no no, you go first, I insist. I’m polite” although, the last would be a little too long for a sign.  And, change the color from red as to not anger raging motorist more. Maybe a nice earth tone would be better.

           Raging and entitled drivers commonly, disobey the yield sign completely disrupting a normally peaceful trip on the merry-go-round. With a true sense of entitlement and inpatients, raging drivers, frequently dash into roundabouts, causing innocent commuters to lock up their brakes sending morning drinks and afternoon lunches flying. You do need to stop for the drivers in the roundabout.

           Mutable lane roundabouts bring another breed of offenders. Circle Hogs, these drivers try to straighten the road by weaving from outside lane to inside lane, with little care for the vehicles sharing the space. The theory here is if these Road Hogs can shorten the trip through the roundabout, by making it as straight as possible, they can get to work or school 20 minutes earlier or maybe a few milliseconds-- In a busy world, every millisecond counts.

            Before roundabouts life was more relaxing, there was time to stop and ponder the wonders of the universe. Before roundabouts, there were traffic lights. Motorist could take minute long breaks from their commutes doing fun activities such as hair or makeup, important text about a date last night, or homework that’s due in class today. It’s unfortunate that roundabouts sprouting up. Drivers will miss the entertainment of high-speed side impact collisions, blocking their route, that so frequent its traffic control counterpart that is the traffic light. Pedestrians will not have the joy of playing a lively daily Dodge-car game while crossing the wider intersections.

Winning in the Rain

By Eric Wade

            Rain we need it. Sometimes we want it. Without it the world would shrivel up and die, but rain always seems to come at the wrong time.      

            It comes on the long commutes home, or walking to campus. Rain comes on the weekends, or when at an outdoor wedding. For me the rain comes when I need to get something done.

            I work outside, at least until I’m done with school, so the weather plays a large part in my day. If it rains we usually go home, but over the last week there has been a push to get or job done. The problem is that the weather has fought use at every turn .

            Last week we needed to set trusses on the house we are building, and so we hired a crane to lift them for us. The day that was scheduled for the crane to show up, rain was in the forecast. The time agreed by the crane operator came and went, and no crane was in sight. I called him and he didn’t answer. I figured he cancelled due to rain. This presented a problem, for it hadn’t started to rain yet, and if he were there we could have gotten the job done before the weather changed.

             I called a backup crane operator and he agreed to help us, but it would be later in the day. By the time he got there, the rain had moved in, the wind had picked up and the temperature dropped. The job needed to be done.

            He pulled and set up his rig well after the sky opened up. It was extreme, and exhilarating to be two stories in the air, with trusses flapping in the breeze. It was almost fun, but it was terrifying at the same time. We finished the job. The weather and events tried to stop us, but we won, and all when it was said and done, it felt like we won.

Two Paths of Extreme

By Eric Wade     

                Modern humans all too well know the price of extremist, whether political or religious. Extremist have shaped the way we live our life, and how we view the world, but there are two types of extremists, ones that use it in a negative way, and one in a positive way. The contrast can be great, and the affects even greater.

                Using extremism to change the world, Muslim extremist attacked the United States and changed our views of ourselves, and the world around us. By method of choice being the bombing of unsuspecting innocent civilians, Terrorists groups like Al Qaeda use extreme methods to evoke fear   in the hearts of millions. Their agenda based on religious beliefs – taken from scripters of the Quran -- states that westerners are infidels and must die, for not following the word of the Islamic Bible. As stated in a letter to the American people, Osama Bin Laden stated, that we needed to come to Islam to prevent further attacks. Bin Laden justified his war with a verse from the Quran, stating, “Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them”. Feeling wronged and oppressed by the United States, Ben Laden lead an extremist movement against America. It was these beliefs that lead to the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

                The attacks on the Trade Center were an extremist act that cost the innocent lives of 2,981. As a result, the terrorist gained attention for their cause. Be it a violent action, with horrible results, the group still made the world aware of their message, but with grave consequence to their own people. Because of the attacks, the war on terror stormed the Middle East costing the lives of thousands on both sides of the conflict-- many being the lives of innocent civilians. Reports of the death toll from the war on terror differ from one source to another; some estimate a loss of civilian, terror group and military life as high as 200,000.

                Peaceful extremism are the other side to the coin. Getting change through peace and love takes more thought. Any group can blow up a bunch of people and make the news, but changing the world with peace takes persistence, constitution, and humility. Actions of peace change the world and the view of the world, but with less loss of life compared to violence.

                While sitting in a Birmingham jail, Dr. Martin Luther King used peace move the civil rights movement forward. After reading a letter from eight prominent white clergymen, Dr. King responded with a well thought-out, peaceful response, defending his right to be Birmingham and wherever injustice is. In addition, Dr. King explained the difference between the two types of extremism, and provided some great examples of how the peaceful extremism works.

                The eight clergymen implied that Dr. King was an extremist in their letter, but after careful thought Dr. King found that he could embrace the role, for wasn’t Jesus an extremist in love, and wasn’t Amos an extremist of justice. Are not disciple Paul, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson all extremist. To Dr. King, being compared to these people he took as an honor, for these mean were of great importance to the lives of billions, and of great importance to the most basic of human rights.

                “Jesus Christ was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment.” Explaining the value and need of peaceful extreme, Dr. King said, “So, after all, maybe the south, the nation, and the world are in dire need of creative extremists”.

                With bitterness, hatred and frustration, the desire to be treated fare and the need for freedom caused some black movements to call for violence. Dr. King advocated against violence, but felt that if nonviolent movement didn’t succeeded, that many of his nonviolent followers would turn to the black nationalist ideologies and to violence, resulting in deaths of both black and white

                Over 200,000 have died from the result of a violent extremist group’s desire for change. It is clear that violent methods of change are a horrible waste of life. Some died in the nonviolent protest of the civil rights movement, if a peaceful and loving leader didn’t spearhead it, it could have been much worse. Peace and love changed the south, and the nation. Peace and understanding of fellow humans will spare countless wasted lives. There doesn’t need to be violent extremist to change the world. Dr. King proved peace works.

Navy experience transformed boys to men

Navy experience transformed boys to men

BY ERIC WADE

Voice Correspondent

            Nine stories from the crashing waves of the Persian Gulf below, the flight deck of the Dwight D. Eisenhower buzzed with Navy crewmembers prepared fighter jets for flight. Then it happens, in a flash. Catapulted from the thousand-foot deck, the aircraft launches into the horizon.

            “It’s so loud it makes your teeth rattle, it makes your vision rattle,” Kyle Hamlin said. “It’s so loud you can feel it.”

            This scene unfolded in front of Petty Officer Hamlin, 27, of Tecumseh, every day of his life on the aircraft carrier, while he sat in his fire truck, watching and waiting for something to go terribly wrong.

            Everyone on the ship has a job, and they’re highly specialized at what they do. Hamlin’s job was as a firefighter specializing in crash and recovery. That was in January 2012, before completing his active duty commitment to the United States Navy. Now Instead of finding Hamlin at sea, you’ll find him in the classrooms at Washtenaw Community College.

            Hamlin majors in business at WCC, and attends an apprenticeship machine and tool program at the National Tooling and Machining Association in Toledo Ohio. His employer, Rare Tool, pays for the apprenticeship program. The GI bill covers his tuition at WCC.

            On the cramped Eisenhower, Hamlin slept in a room or “berth” with his squadron, which had bunk beds three high, with a small storage area under the bottom bunk, and a small stand up locker for gear. The Eisenhower is a ship of over 5,000 souls, so space is limited.

            Hamlin spent almost every moment with his team, sleeping in the same small room, eating and working together. Lifelong bonds formed.

            “You spend a lot of time with these guys,” Hamlin said “The holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, they become your family.”

             Hamlin stays in touch with the men he served on the ship with. To him, they are better friends then the ones he made before the Navy.  

            John Kelty, 24, of College Station Texas, majoring in sports management, was as shipmate of Hamlin’s. He shared the same small room with him and similar experiences with college.

            To Hamlin and Kelty, it’s the drive and maturity that they brought from the Navy that sets them apart from other students, and gives him an edge when it comes to his education.

            On the ship, everything was about making sure the job is done. In college, if homework is assigned to Hamlin, it’s going to get done. He admits that he has become a little obsessive compulsive about getting his schoolwork done.

            “In the Navy, they teach discipline, responsibility and honesty,” said Dr. Edward Hill, an instructor at WCC, who had Hamlin in his English 111 class and now has him in his English 226 class.

             Hill observes all of these traits in Hamlin, and thinks these traits transfer well into the classroom. With Hamlin’s positive attitude, Hill makes predictions on his future.

            “As a teacher for a number of years, I predict continued success for Kyle,” Hill said.

            Kelty carried the same work ethic home, but Kelty says being in the Navy has matured him, where a majority of the students he shares classes with hadn’t.

            “The classrooms are full of 18-year-olds disrespecting their professors,” Kelty Said.

            Before Hamlin was in the military, he admits that he didn’t have much ambition. He also confessed to using drugs. Before the Navy, Hamlin was the same 18-year-old that Kelty and Hamlin feel are alien to them now.     

            At a young age, diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Hamlin smoked marijuana to self-medicate. The drug calmed his mind, Hamlin said, which to him was a relief, but Hamlin’s mother, Marie Hamlin, of Tecumseh disagrees.

            “Pot might have mellowed Kyle, but it took away his drive.” Marie said, “He became lazy and unmotivated.”

            At the time, Kyle worked for his parents at a grinding shop, but showed up for work late or not at all. Although, it was a tough decision, Kyle’s father had to fire him. After a few failed attempts at working for other companies, Kyle joined the Navy.

            At the time, Marie thought, that there might be hope for her son, but being in the Navy, and waiting to ship out to boot camp, are two different things.

            Kyle quit his job six months before leaving for boot camp. He said he didn’t know it was going to be that long before he left, but Marie knows this wasn’t the truth.

            “He knew that he wasn't going to boot camp right away,” Marie said. “He just wanted to lay around and party until the day he had to leave.”

            Relationships were also tense with his dad. Hamlin’s father is a Vietnam veteran who thought of his son as a lazy and an irresponsible kid. Once back, their relationship is much better.

            “My dad and I are like best friends.” Hamlin said, “We talk about what it was like in war, and he tells me stories of war that he tells no one else.”

            Hamlin wasted no time finding a job after returning home. within a week, he started working at Rare Tool in Tecumseh, a machine shop that makes parts for high-speed printers. After getting experience at Rare Tool and giving back to the company for paying for his apprenticeship, he hopes to return to the family machine shop.

            On the buzzing flight deck of the Eisenhower, Hamlin left behind a boy and learned to be a responsible man. Marie knew it when she got a letter from the captain naming Hamlin, out of more than 5,000 personnel, “Warrior of the month," because of his excellent work ethic and attitude.

             “It was at that very moment it hit me, that this is the kid that I knew was in there,” Marie said. “I was very proud of him and happy.”