There are several incorrect practices that afflict our society but many among us think they are only exercising their rights and impose their own will upon others.
However, we should not accept this behaviour because if we do, we would have deemed to have accepted the law of the jungle without any regard for the actual law.
I write this because I have noticed several people have erected barriers around their houses to prevent neighbours’ vehicles from being parked there.
Although I understand that this behaviour is limited to certain crowded areas, it is still not justified since the area outside the house is still public property, where the home owner has no jurisdiction and is, thus, illegal.
However, what is happening today is surprising. Some homeowners have not only put barriers, they have also erected barriers on all sides of their property.
I agree it is wrong to stop one’s car directly in front of a neighbour’s house, it sometimes becomes a necessity to park vehicles in the lanes and by lanes adjoining the house, especially during a family gathering or a function.
It is very unfortunate that many families with supposed links to the Traffic Directorate, report their neighbours’ cars without regard to their rights or the embarrassment that it could cause. This when only the visit was a brief one and the car would’ve been removed anyway in a few minutes.
We need to be cultured, have some understanding, ethics and tolerance before we need to resort to law, which should, in any case, be applied to everyone. This way, we can achieve a lot in terms of good morals, friendliness and brotherhood.
I once contacted the owner of a house near mine to ask him to allow us to park under the decorative shade he had put up outside his premises since he was not using it anyway. He agreed immediately and appreciated the fact that I had sought his permission.
As I write this, I also came across an official report of the Muharraq Governorate Prosecution, which mentioned how a man had stabbed his neighbour with intent to kill, due to a dispute over a parking lot. I was aghast at how serious things can get on a subject that does not deserve this escalation.
A little commitment, flexibility, co-operation and respect can ensure there are no untoward incidents because the consequences can be very ugly.
Unjustified violence is a flagrant violation of the bonds of love among the people of Bahrain.