Addicted to addictions

Sometime in the late 70's: My sister and I climb into the back of
the station wagon, the reversed back see propped up so we can
entertain the people waiting behind us. Today was our day to get gas
based on our license plate number - the odd or even day, as it was.
I can't remember details. I barely remember this. But I do. The
gas crisis. Didn't mean much to me as a young tot. Well, maybe an
old tot. The world was rosy to me. My biggest complaint was waiting
in that line keeping my sister and I from getting on our bikes and
playing Charlie's Angels with Jennifer down the street. Even if I
did always have to be Sabrina, the smart and unglamorous one.

Maybe all the others of my generation just got to stay home alone,
because all grown up, they were more than ready to shell out load of
cash for SUVs and the gas needed to run them. They even seem willing
to risk damage squeezing into compact spots meant for cars that would
help to prevent a new gas crisis. I wonder what we will remember of
today's oil crisis and prices 20 years from now. Will we remember
the soaring prices and the lives lost because we failed to heed
history the first time?

Hope is on the way. A new documentary is out to help us figure out
how to kick our addiction to oil.

Addiction: Physically or mentally dependent on something; cannot
stop without adverse effects.

Is this really descriptive of our relation to oil? Yes, maybe we are
mentally dependent in that we think we need it. But what are the
adverse effects if we stop? What adverse effects are there in giving
up our gas guzzling cars? The wound to our egos? The deflation of
our inflated sense of importance, of our godlike stature, of our
power, of our immortality? I don't think that counts.

We need to admit that our dependence on oil is not an addiction, but
is the result of, as a nation, choosing ignorance and apathy. Elie
Wiesel said that indifference is the greatest danger to world
peace. Now, I don't know if he drives a hybrid or an Explorer, but
indifference and the disbelief in our efficacy keeps us from taking
responsibility for how our choices have far reaching effects on the
world.

As a result, we are called to watch Al Gore's powerpoint feature film
and to, as a nation, fess up to our 'addiction.' We are led to sites
where for somewhere between $19.99 and $200 (depending on just how
indifferent and apathetic you have been able to afford to be) you may
offset your 'carbon contribution.' I know I should pay this and 'do
my part.' Yet, I can't help resenting that I am supposed to give up
a bit of my modest teacher's salary as car company executives and oil
moguls live it up in mansions and are not asked to sacrifice
anything. Why, I wonder, are Hummers even allowed to be manufactured
and sold? Why should I have to drive around a parking lot five
times because my compact car will not fit between the fat SUVs parked
in my compact spots? Yet, I am supposed to pay $100 to make my
existence carbon-free?

Call this an addiction allows us to avoid responsibility for our own
selfish, tunnel-visioned, materialistic vanity. It also neglects
the simple solution -- just stop using so much oil -- turn in the gas
guzzlers, carpool, walk, take the subway/bus, ride your bike, support
legislation to force car manufacturers to use the technology that is
available to make only cars that are gas efficient, better yet
support biodiesel and alternative fuels -- the alternatives are there.