Many are feeling the pain and hurt that the oil spill disaster has brought upon us. And, most of the time, people do not respond to what they cannot feel or see. After returning from a trip to the Midwest, I feel compelled to speak for all who are taking a stand. Taking I-75 North (and back) to Michigan, I noticed Floridians are not the only folks using their vehicles to let their voices be heard.
The impact did not really set in until a 20-minute stop in Ohio. My husband and I watched as about 50 vehicles came in and out of a Speedway gas station, occupying every pump. No one was turning into BP that was directly across the street. After venturing in to the cashier, I inquired on the lack of attendance next door, her response being, “it has been this way for a while now.”
Do I feel sorry for the middle people who license or own the convenient stores attached to BP’s pumps? Of course. However, I feel even worse for the now out of work fishermen, the economies of the small towns depending on the Gulf fisheries, the sea life, and the future my child will have to live in because of a corporation trying to save a few bucks. But when a corporation makes a bad decision, in some way, we all feel the pain.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2010.