civic duty

I've been thinking a lot about obligations lately, specifically obligations you have as a functioning member of society, a citizen. You see, I had jury duty on Friday and 99% of the people I told had the same reaction, to tell me how they thought that I could and should get out of it.

The suggestions ranged from explaining to the judge my deep-seated hatred for all races other than my own to simply carrying "N is for Noose" by Sue Grafton as my chosen reading material. All of the suggestions, however, involved me being dishonest in some way. In actuality, my hatred knows no racial bounds and I have never been a fan of Sue Grafton. Now don't get me wrong, I, like everyone else, have told a lie or two in my time. I don't make a habit of it and am not very good at it to boot. But it's more than that.

It is my opinion there are just some duties that you are obliged to perform as a member of society. Jury duty is one of them. Voting and being a polite traffic merger are two others. That is why I didn't attempt to get out of it. And, as it turns out, I was excused anyway. Proving once again...it's not what you know, it's who you know. And apparently I know the arresting officer.