Phrasing is everything. "Airline officials said the episode was not related to terrorism." Of course it was related, even if the offender was not a terrorist (or "tearist" as Ashcroft likes to say). The mentally unstable are like coal mine canaries, displaying symptoms most of us are able to suppress. Engendering paranoia is one of the aims of terrorism. There's also an interesting change going on as passengers are now being encouraged to intervene in such matters. It used to be that law enforcement generally advocated passivity when citizens are confronted with a criminal. "Just give them your money; don't put up a fight." Situations vary, and this might or might not be sensible, but the message sent was that the authorities (or the criminals) have power and control; you don't, so don't complicate matters. If they're now asking us to get involved it would seem to suggest that things are out of control.
When I first started riding school buses it was a bit of a free-for-all, later designated Moms would be assigned to "moniter" the school bus goings ons, cafateria too. I saw that story on cbs yesterday and I agree with Alex about the change in terms of passenger engagement. Will that be reverted when assigned skymarshals take back over every single jet, Greyhound, Metro North, Path, Metro liner and Lightrail and subway ? Will Bernie Getz be consulted ?
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- alex 10-09-2001 8:55 pm
When I first started riding school buses it was a bit of a free-for-all, later designated Moms would be assigned to "moniter" the school bus goings ons, cafateria too. I saw that story on cbs yesterday and I agree with Alex about the change in terms of passenger engagement. Will that be reverted when assigned skymarshals take back over every single jet, Greyhound, Metro North, Path, Metro liner and Lightrail and subway ? Will Bernie Getz be consulted ?
- bill 10-10-2001 12:24 am [add a comment]