The
other day, stopping for gas, I was standing holding the
gas hose to my car, watching the gas meter dispensing with
my money at a furious pace, but otherwise in a good mood
and minding my own business.
Suddenly, my ears were assaulted
by loud music, which after a minute or two was interrupted
by an even louder commercial announcement. There was no
way of avoiding the onslaught to my senses, captive as I
was, tethered to my own car by a short hose and forced to
listen.
I was so annoyed that after
the tank had filled, I marched into the gas station (which
is the one I regularly use) and complained. I felt better
even though I doubted much would come of it.
A few days later, I happened
upon a news item about a recent rebellion in Britain which
was declared "No Music Day," with a surprisingly
large percent of the populace, including radio stations,
stores and even music lovers, forswearing all tunes for
24 hours. The man who came up with the idea, a musician
and artist, Bill Drummond, was tired of hearing songs turned
into TV commercials.
To which I say, "Bravo,
Mr. Drummond."
Just imagine going to Starbucks
(where they not only play music, they advertise that you
can download their songs onto your iPod) and sitting in
delightful silence while you enjoy your coffee, or shopping
in your supermarket without hearing music constantly interrupted
by a shrill voice announcing the latest specials.
What bliss it would be to
go to a mall, fast-food takeout, bank or even the local
Jiffy Lube and not hear some perfectly awful guitar strumming,
or some discordant group singing some stupid, endlessly
repetitive lyrics like, "Put me in a zoo baby, cause
you're drivin' me wild."
Of course, I can't imagine
a world without music and we have a wonderful music system
in our home, but we have a choice of many kinds of music,
from reggae to ragtime and soundscapes to symphonies. We
choose not only what to listen to, but when. Whenever music,
or for that matter, TV programs or other's cellphone conversations
intrude into our private space, we lose a basic freedom.
We are also receiving what,
studies show, is a definite negative impact of noise pollution.
Certainly in urban areas, we already receive enough noise
that is unavoidable: traffic, aircraft and construction.
Continuous exposure to noise induces stress responses. Reactions
can include rage, sadness, panic attack and indecision.
Noise has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure,
increased aggression and decreased productivity.
Less noise is more quiet.
Quiet is not, however, silence. Actually, quiet allows us
to hear more sounds. Through quiet, we understand one another
more clearly and restore our bodies and souls. Quiet fosters
good conversation, neighborliness and thoughtful reflection.
Children learn faster and people work better. Quiet is good
for us.
According to the Coalition
Against Noise Pollution, "A comfortable environment
is one in which there is freedom from annoyance and distraction,
so that working or pleasure can be carried out unhindered
physically or mentally." The next time you are bothered
by a car's music system, your neighbor's TV or barking dog,
loud before-movie commercials, or any unnecessary noises,
speak up ... softly, but firmly. We all need to be more
vocal about our right to enjoy peace and quiet.
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
