There are indications everywhere that respect for personal accountability has reached a new low. While there are always positive exceptions – accountability in America is an endangered idea.
Road rage appears to have led to a shooting in an upscale suburban neighborhood outside of New Orleans. Deputies believe the shooting resulted from a minor traffic accident that occurred about 4:00 pm in the Destrehan neighborhood of Ormond Estates in St. Charles Parish. Over the years Ormond Estates has been a favorite area for Saints players to reside and the idea of a shooting in the late afternoon in that neighborhood is unheard of. Adding to breaking the stereotype of daily shootings in the greater New Orleans area is that fact that the victim is 51 and the alleged shooter is 78. This shooting was the exact opposite of the typical shootings in the inner city of New Orleans involving young black males.
According to authorities in St. Charles Parish, 51-year-old Michael Woulfe was driving a black Ford pick-up truck and sideswiped a silver Mercedes driven by 78-year-old Walter Tabary. After hitting Tabary’s Mercedes, Woulfe drove away from the scene in his Ford truck. That prompted Tabary with his wife in the car with him to follow Woulfe to his home and confront him about hitting his car and driving off.
A neighbor witnessed an altercation which led to the shooting. Speaking to The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate the neighbor described tense arguing between the two men and at one point Tabary mentioned that he had a gun and threatened to shoot Woulfe. Shortly after that, Tabray apparently shot Woulfe in the stomach.
Woulfe fell to the ground, but soon got up and went to Tabary’s car and began pounding on the window. At this point, Woulfe allegedly got a wrench from his garage and shattered the window of Tabray’s Mercedes. The the neighbor said Tabray shot Woulfe two more times.
Tabray sustained facial injuries and was treated at the scene and 51-year-old Michael Woulfe was airlifted to University Hospital where he underwent surgery and is now listed in guarded, but stable condition.
In an upscale suburban neighborhood, two grown men – one 51 the other 78 – get into a heated argument over an accident and one of the men is in the hospital after being shot. WTF?
If Michael Woulfe hit Walter Tabray’s Mercedes and drove off – that was a blatant disregard for personal accountability. It’s understandable that Tabary would be outraged, but shooting Woulfe was extreme.
Yesterday, I had my own experience with the lack of personal accountability in America. I went to my car parked in the garage I park in daily in downtown New Orleans and was horrified to see the cover on my car with two large gashes exposing parts of the car. I lifted up the cover and saw what I expected to see which was damage to the left front light and bumper. I was pissed!
Someone had sideswiped my car either pulling in or out of the parking space next to me and with no regard for being responsible – drove off – leaving me with dealing with insurance and the logistics of getting my car repaired.
Obviously, my episode of being the victim of the loss of accountability in America was not as serious as the incident that occurred in Destrehan, but it was still the result of this growing trend.
Think about the countless daily reminders we have that no one wants to be responsible for their actions anymore.
Our civilized society is possible because of personal accountability – as we lose respect for people being accountable for their actions – we lose our grip on civility.
