[PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List

[Derrick J Brashear]

On Fri, 14 Sep 2001, Fred W. Schneider III wrote:

> 
> I'm having trouble dealing with it all.  I went out to lunch two hours
> ago --- pizza place --- the owner had the television tuned to the
> memorial service from the National Cathedral.  It was being watched by
> two local school teachers and myself.  Once they left, there were 25
> people in the place just chatting as if nothing had happened.  One
> hundred fifty miles away ... "It can't happen here.  That's New York's
> problem."  

I have little doubt it could happen anywhere. Are other places less likely
to be targets? Probably. Does that change anything? Not really.

> I held up well in church last night but I'm not doing so now.  Sorry,
> but I getting irritated with my own neighbors.  The whole thing is
> building up.  Maybe this is just the value we place on human life.  Have
> we watched too many television shows?  My wife had another television on
> downstairs ... not to watch ... just background noise ... I walked in to
> see one of those multiple murders on a mystery show.  Was the World
> Trade Center debacle just one more television shoot-em-up?

What value is that? In what way insufficient? I certainly mourn the loss
of those no longer with us, but there's nothing that can be done to bring
them back. So clearly I need to focus my energies in directions which will
be productive. I'll never forget what happened. I have and will pray.
beyond that I don't know (yet) what I can do. (Not give blood; the local
blood bank is encouraging anyone who hasn't yet given to wait 4-6 weeks
until current stocks are exhausted.)

> And no, Roger, that don't do any better with security in European
> airports than we do here.  It seems to be all a matter of how recent was
> the last security breach.  I walked through security in Gatwick in
> seconds a few weeks ago.  So did everyone else.  I doubt that the public
> will tolerate a high level of security six months from now.

That matches my (small) international travel experience, all of which was
in Europe, and none of which matched up with Roger's comments.

> And if Derrick insists on a connection, same will apply in
> Pittsburgh.      

As long as it's neither wrong nor inflammatory this situation warrants
indulgence.

-D