If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?

First of all, let me stress that one billboard is insufficient. To get my message across, I need at least three. Secondly, the notices should be posted off Epping, NSW. Why that setting, you might ask. The adage might sound very sophomoric. Ebbing rhymes with Epping. The latter is an upper north shore suburb of Sydney. It represents a major transport interchange. Express trains stop there. You could also switch for the North West metro. As a result, Epping is highly sought-after. Once, I saw my dentist there. His clinic was near the station. Even though I don’t live there, that’s good enough for moi. Moreover, my friend is an Epping bloke through and through. He grew up there and his family still lives there.

Of course, if you are a film buff, you’d have heard of Three Billboards. The drama starred Frances McDormand as a bitter mum. She’d have enough of the authorities’ ineptitude and apathy. She merely wanted some answers. Subsequently, she hired the eponymous number of billboards just outside Ebbing, Missouri. That year, for her convincing portrayal, McDormand bagged the second of her four Oscars. As they say, ‘All in a day’s work’. Woody Harrelson likewise gives a memorable turn as the embattled Sheriff. It’s hard to reconcile that, once upon a time, he headlined White Men Can’t Jump.

‘A Spike Lee joint’

So what will my freeway billboards contain? They would all proclaim, ‘Do the right thing’. On first glance, this doesn’t seem very original. Spike Lee directed a joint with that title. I saw the movie on Netflix, which had an ensemble cast. Among them were Rosie Perez, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, and Samuel L. Jackson. The plot unfolds in a microcosmic Brooklyn neighbourhood. Tensions run high, culminating in violence on a searing summer’s day. Right was critically acclaimed and even got some Oscar buzz.

Past Billboards

To be honest, I’ve seen worse. While at uni, I encountered a billboard with Hugh Grant. The pic showed his mugshot after hiring an escort in his car. The caption read, ‘Don’t get caught red handed’, or something. Another time, my friend and I were in downtown Sydney. Kevin Rudd was then Prime Minister. The former pointed out an ad with the PM as mini-me, complete with the pinkie pose. The Brown Bunny is one of the century’s most controversial flicks. Last year, I finally took in the picture. In LA, a blurred out freeway ad (promoting the movie) was a big talking point. Perhaps I should add the censored image, adding a dash of notoriety?

Doing the Right Thing: a practical guide

Doing the right thing is rather broad, but being ecumenical makes it beauteous. It could have small or big picture implications. For instance, disposing of your rubbish after eating. Putting recyclables in the yellow bin and the rest in the red one. Binning your candy wrappers. Giving what you could during Mass collections. Supporting small businesses. Dedicating your time to various causes. Saying your prayers regularly. These are all small deeds that would go a long way. Looking at that freeway ad, you will get reminded to be a model Christian and denizen.

How about the bigger picture? Doing good will bring you more blessings. Recently, I read about this mum of two toddlers. She ate in a cafe with her spouse and their two kids. She apologised to a nearby lady for having rowdy little ones. The former just smiled. When the mum went to the counter, the barista told her that the lady already paid for their brekkie. She left a heartwarming note that made mum cry. This was an altruistic human. She did not need to shout the family breakfast. She understood their plight, and that speaks volumes.

While doing Honours, I was about to borrow a pile of books. At the counter, I realised that I didn’t have my student card. The young lady was very helpful, asking me for my card number. Having provided this, she told me not to worry. I said that she was a real lifesaver, which made her beam.

It would be totes different if you were on a date and you forgot your wallet. See also: Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Ebbing

The Ebbing sheriff couldn’t spare an hour to investigate. McDormand even had to rattle their cage to pique their interest. Actor Lucas Hedges was another standout. The movie had a scanty cast that befitted their small town setting. Three years later, McDormand would win two more Oscars for Nomadland.

In Ebbing much like Epping, the freeway billboard gives the cause massive exposure. Thousands of motorists will behold the sight (or slight). The instrument is an everyday object that has wide appeal. In the movie’s case, McDormand used this as a last result. When wielding this power, maximising its potential is crucial. As a wise man once intoned, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’.