Anger is a funny, frustrating, and overall annoying emotion. Keep in mind that I'm not of the theological school that believes that all anger is sin, but I certainly do think that it can stem from, and lead to, sin. I had a verbal altercation this morning after which I really felt convicted, or at the very least confused.
I love to bicycle. The area in which we are living is relatively flat, and I was able to purchase a used bicycle rather cheaply, and decided to go on an early morning ride (while it was still cool.). The roads were generally empty (the other reason I like to ride early). Something that should be known initially is that traffic laws in Kampala have not yet moved from philosophical to theoretical, and you kind of just do what seems safest at the time. They do drive on the left side of the road. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm annoyingly neurotic about obeying traffic laws. I was riding past a shopping center when a Boda (motorcycle taxi) driver pulled up about a foot away from me and yelled "get over." At this point I was about 6 inches from the berm, which is where I have noticed the locals riding their bicycles. One must also understand that Boda motor laws have yet to even reach philosophical, and are still at alternating entropic levels awaiting spontaneous combustion (they are really crazy and dangerous).
I yelled back "what" and he stopped and said "you're getting in the way." I pointed to the road and stated "there's a whole road!" He then said "there are cars" (none at that time) and pointed at a 4 inch strip of dirt on the berm and said that I should ride on that. I informed him, in a condescending, annoyed, and unfortunately American tone, "I'm fairly sure that you and they are able to avoid a half-meter obstruction on the road." He again said "ride there," pointing, and I said "I'll ride here" passing him on the road, and making my way up the hill.
So why share this story? What should I have done? Apologized for any inconvenience, but explain my position? Ask him if he was having a bad day and something else was bothering him? Bludgeoned him with with papaya? As Christians we serve a higher master than social norms, but nonetheless we are human. Where's the line between being taken advantage of, and standing your ground graciously?
The fact that I'm a white collar white guy arguing with a blue collar black guy in a post-colonial country doesn't help. I think if I see him again I'd like to invite him to dinner to discuss it. Thoughts?
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