BU Student Founds Hug Don't Hate Movement; Celebrates MLK's Legacy with Concert
Sporting a buzz cut with a peace sign shaved into the back, Sid Efromovich, a junior in CAS, takes a moment to read his notes before addressing the group of students gathered in the Howard Thurman Center for "Coffee and Conversation." "If the government starts taxing drivers $8 to enter Manhattan, then the revenue could be used to create a more efficient and reliable form of public transportation," he says. "When I was in Switzerland, I took the bus everywhere; not only was it cheap, but it was the most reliable transportation I'd ever seen. If the schedule said the bus would be at the stop at 1:05, it would be there at 1:05:00 on the dot. Now you're telling me we can't do that in America?"At that moment, a scruffy blond 19-year-old guy jumps in, saying, "What about our freedom? I shouldn't be restricted from driving to New York because I can't afford the $8. Not everyone can afford to pay that daily."
Sid replies, "Well, in that case, you could take the public transportation. The $8 fee would increase demand for better public transportation, and while the improvement wouldn't be immediate, it could be done within 5 years. Trust me, I've seen it happen."
"Yeah but then you're punishing the lower class who have cars but can't pay the eight bucks to get into the city every day," snaps the 19-year-old Alabama native. "I mean, here you are in your business suit arguing for conservation and progress, but you don't know what it's like to be living paycheck to paycheck. The poor need to worry about survival before they worry about the environment."
Sid's ever-present smile fades as the debate turns into a personal attack. "Look, I've lived in a third-world country my whole life and have traveled all over the world. I can guarantee you I've seen the most extreme forms of poverty imaginable. If we sacrifice the convenience of our cars, we could push the government to create the most amazing system of public transportation on the planet. It's not unreachable."
|
|