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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by IsoM on October 15, 2002, at 16:48:32
In reply to Bali... Is nowhere safe???, posted by Rach on October 14, 2002, at 9:22:53
Sadly, no, there's no place that's truly safe - just that some are safer than others. Sorry to sound so blasé about it all (I'm *definitely* not!), but what's been happening in many parts of the world for many years is finally coming to North America. So many people have lived in conditions similar to this, where day-to-day life is fraught with unknown dangers. If you've ever followed international news much, this has been 'normal' for many. It's a terrible way to live - it's why many young people growing up in war zones, extreme poverty, areas with little stable infrastructure, etc suffer in a constant state of PTSD. Their life is hell.
Now we in North America are discovering what life is like in the rest of the world. No one deserves to live like this. No one should have to raise children in such conditions. And sadly, such happenings are going to continue to increase with little chance for governments to stop such things. What a bleak prospect.
Posted by Phil on October 15, 2002, at 18:07:32
In reply to Re: Bali... Is nowhere safe??? » Rach, posted by IsoM on October 15, 2002, at 16:48:32
Austin was a very laid back small college town right in the beautiful hill country. Definately the best time to live in Austin, not so crowded.
That's the day the sniper, Whitman, took 96 minutes to kill 13 people and wound dozens of others. The UT tower is over 300' and he had a 360 degree view to shoot anyone and everyone.
The police didn't even have guns with the power they needed so hunters were bringing rifles for the cops to use. Some very heroic measures later, they filled the bastard with bullet holes.If that can happen here in 1966, anything can happen anywhere.
Posted by Mashogr8 on October 16, 2002, at 15:23:31
In reply to Hey, try living near D.C.! (nm) » Rach, posted by BeardedLady on October 15, 2002, at 14:24:04
Beardy, I've been thinking about you and Baltimore and the "shooter". You teach in a school I believe in Balto., is that right?
I have two sisters teaching in Maryland, one in Silver Spring (Montgomery County) and one in Baltimore City. The sister in Baltimore has been more verbal about the recent events. After the young boy was shot, the schools went into lock-down. Yet, the very next day, her principal expected my sister to take her students (multihandicapped as well as mentally challenged, aged 16-21) on a school bus to their "workshop" where they sort foods and place them in bags for food kitchens. My sister refused to take them. She told the principal the parents were depending on her to keep their children safe. Principal said they would be safe. She said they wouldn't be in lockdown. He said that it really didn't matter. The parents woulnd't care. She said the paper says we're in lockdown, the parents think their children are being kept safe. I won't violate that trust. In the meantime, her bloodpressure must have risen quite a bit, since when she is angry, she usually turns deathly white. That day, she looked like she had been in the sun for 48 hours straight. She wound up going home early, shaking and trembling from being so furious with the man in charge and winding up with one gigantic headache. Before she left for home, she had to ask the secretary to show her how to complete the sick leave form. She's only taken two other sick days in the last twenty years. When she came back the day after, one the school nurses mentioned that she had made her point, quite effectively too. They did mention that they feared for her sanity. But nothing comes between my sister and the kids she's in charge of.
Has your building been put into a lockdown status?
Take care. Keep the driver's door open while yuo fill your tank.
MA
Posted by IsoM on October 16, 2002, at 16:40:42
In reply to Re: Hey, try living near D.C.!, posted by Mashogr8 on October 16, 2002, at 15:23:31
I have nothing but words of praise for your sister. It's people like her with high principles that stick to them that make this world a little better. I wish the world was filled with similarly minded people. Tell her there's lots who are right behind her, proud of her stand. Maybe the next time something like that comes up, she'll think of us & feel better about having to confront someone. My only regret was that it took such a toll on her. I hope she doesn't suffer because of it.
I'm sure word will get out (it always does) & other parents will express their gratitude too. Stupid, bloody principle!! - his brain (what there is of it) sure isn't connected to his heart. It's because of people like him that I home schooled my sons till they were old enough (high school) to be able to confront teachers when their principles went against what was said. I'm glad I did. They're all young men now with firm principles & high standards.
Posted by BeardedLady on October 16, 2002, at 18:59:05
In reply to Re: Hey, try living near D.C.!, posted by Mashogr8 on October 16, 2002, at 15:23:31
Mine are all adults, but my husband's school is in lockdown and, frankly, we're all sick of it. Even if the shooter came to Baltimore, we're nowhere near a highway; it's all these busy and pokey roads.
When I walk to my school and back to my car, I admit I am freaked out. I have only gotten gas once, and I went to the busiest gas station I could find and hid behind the pump.
I don't know what to make of this. I know we're not paralyzed with fear, but we think about it every day.
beardy
Posted by IsoM on October 17, 2002, at 17:34:41
In reply to Bali... Is nowhere safe???, posted by Rach on October 14, 2002, at 9:22:53
Rach, I saw your post on PB2000 & if my replied seemed insensitive, I apologize. It never occurred to me that it might be & I don't know if it's one of the posts you referred to. If it is, my sincerest apologies - I never meant to hurt anyone.
It's just that I know lots of people who have emigrated here from other parts of the world. I have friends of many different nationalities who still keep in touch with their family & friends back from where they came from. I'm acutely aware of how life is in other places, & it's often very grim.
I only meant to say the horrid situation of other places in the world is coming closer & closer to home. My best friend is from New York originally & is married to an Indonesian guy. Their 21 year old son just left for Bali on Tuesday. He'd made his booking weeks in advance & didn't want to cancel it now. He's not going as a tourist but to visit friends & family. His mom is scared even though he won't be in the main tourist areas. Bali is so small that it's hard to not be near something. He's a striking looking, handsome guy but while he looks exotic over here, there, he'll probably look more like a white person. She's afraid he'll be more noticable, especially that few tourists will be there now.
My son went to Malaysia when the tourists had been kidnapped a couple years back. I tried not to think about it. He assured me he wasn't near tourist digs but it's so hard to know what's safe nowadays & what's not. I had to trust in his own judgement & keep my nose (& mouth) out of it.
I just think it's pathetic that life has become so cheap to so many. People who can kill others never think of giving their victims a face or heart.
Posted by BeardedLady on October 17, 2002, at 17:58:10
In reply to Re: Bali... and insensitive replies » Rach, posted by IsoM on October 17, 2002, at 17:34:41
I must have missed something. The message was "is nowhere safe?" My comment was based on the fact that nowhere IS safe! And yes, Bali was attacked, but my thoughts of safety are a little closer, due to the recent events.
I don't think there was a single insensitive post on this topic, Iso. They were all incredibly sensitive.
beardy
Posted by BeardedLady on October 17, 2002, at 17:58:45
In reply to Re: Hey, try living near D.C.!, posted by Mashogr8 on October 16, 2002, at 15:23:31
Posted by IsoM on October 17, 2002, at 18:02:18
In reply to insensitive replies » IsoM, posted by BeardedLady on October 17, 2002, at 17:58:10
I'm not really sure what it was, but something triggered Rach. Just 'cause it's really hard to hurt or insult me, doesn't mean others aren't affected.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/2000/20020724/msgs/707.htmlI didn't take any comment to be insensitve either, all were good answers, I thought, but if my post hurt Rach, I don't mind apologizing.
Posted by BeardedLady on October 17, 2002, at 18:05:03
In reply to Re: insensitive replies » BeardedLady, posted by IsoM on October 17, 2002, at 18:02:18
I saw that post, but "narrow-minded bigots"? Where?
beardy
Posted by IsoM on October 17, 2002, at 18:07:42
In reply to apologize away! » IsoM, posted by BeardedLady on October 17, 2002, at 18:05:03
Posted by tina on October 18, 2002, at 23:29:19
In reply to apologize away! » IsoM, posted by BeardedLady on October 17, 2002, at 18:05:03
I think the phrase "try living in DC" might have upset her a bit. Taken with a certain tone added to it, might sound a little invalidating and insensitive. It's like someone telling you "your life is good, how could you have any problems?" Just a "maybe, might, could be" kind of thought. Don't beat me up for it ok?
Posted by Rach on October 19, 2002, at 3:46:33
In reply to Re: Hey, try living near D.C.! » Mashogr8, posted by BeardedLady on October 16, 2002, at 18:59:05
Thank you for apologising, Iso, but there was no need. It wasn;t your post that I took offence to . But thank you for apologising, because it forced me to go back and reread all the posts.
That made me realise I completely overreacted and misread into things.
So I am very sorry to everyone for being exceptionally rude and that it is perhaps my own bigotry that came to light.
I also want to let everyone know that I wish you all and your loved ones safety and hope.
I'm sorry again.
Posted by BeardedLady on October 19, 2002, at 6:08:08
In reply to Re: apologize away! » BeardedLady, posted by tina on October 18, 2002, at 23:29:19
The question was "is nowhere safe?" I was seconding that! And thirding and forthing it! I was thinking, "Bali is pretty far away; I wish that were ALL we had to worry about. Instead, even our own homes aren't safe."
No beating up. But, as I've said countless other times, this place is difficult without a tape recording of our voices saying the words. How can we ever know what we're saying will be taken wrong by someone else?
beardy
Posted by BeardedLady on October 19, 2002, at 16:28:57
In reply to Sorry guys..., posted by Rach on October 19, 2002, at 3:46:33
> It wasn;t your post that I took offence to .
Rach, did you know about the sniper yet when I had posted?
> I'm sorry again.I'm sorry, too. I wonder how that would have sounded to a person who hadn't heard about the sniper. See, all of our television shows have been preempted by full-day coverage of semi-literate reporters with nothing new to say going back and forth from here to Rockville. I guess I took it for granted that everyone knew we were suffering from our own special kind of terrorism here.
beardy
Posted by Rach on October 20, 2002, at 2:19:27
In reply to Re: Sorry guys... » Rach, posted by BeardedLady on October 19, 2002, at 16:28:57
Yeah, I had heard of the sniper, but being Australian, Bali was foremost in my mind when I posted. Over here we are also having daily coverage, but of Bali (every normal news bulletin also gives "updates" of the sniper, but it is hard to update with no new information).
My post was not just about Bali, but the world in general including the sniper. I was going to mention everything I was talking about in my post, but the list of awful things happening was never ending, so I gave up.
Bali has hit so hard for Australians because it is THE holiday spot. The reason it is so popular is because Australians are welcomed, cared for, and extremely safe there. You expect a certain degree of crime in your daily life, but for something like that to happen whilst people are at their most vulnerable - on holiday, relaxing and carefree... I have awful images in my mind of people wearing sarongs being blown up.
Posted by IsoM on October 20, 2002, at 2:27:07
In reply to Sorry guys..., posted by Rach on October 19, 2002, at 3:46:33
I'm glad I did apologise, even if it wasn't my post that had triggered you. It got you back to reread the posts & know that no one was being unkind. Don't feel bad about taking some the wrong way - we're only human & liable to misinterpret others when we're having a bad time. The fact you were good enough to let us know shows a lot of goodness, understanding, & humility in you. Don't fret it, Rach.
Posted by shar on October 20, 2002, at 3:30:03
In reply to Re: apologize away! » BeardedLady, posted by tina on October 18, 2002, at 23:29:19
Posted by BeardedLady on October 20, 2002, at 6:52:48
In reply to That's what I (quote)heard(quote), too (nm) » tina, posted by shar on October 20, 2002, at 3:30:03
Posted by shar on October 20, 2002, at 21:03:29
In reply to I must have esp; I (quote) knew (quote) that! (nm) » shar, posted by BeardedLady on October 20, 2002, at 6:52:48
Posted by Phil on October 20, 2002, at 21:40:57
In reply to U R (quote)special(quote), Beardy!! (nm), posted by shar on October 20, 2002, at 21:03:29
Posted by Jackster on October 21, 2002, at 4:51:26
In reply to Beardy..., posted by Rach on October 20, 2002, at 2:19:27
Hi Rachel
I live in NZ so I understand what you mean. Up until what happened in Bali - these shocking events seemed to only happen on the other side of the world. We seemed esp. comforted by the fact that no one ever takes any notice of NZ. (Except for rugby). And then 'Sept 11' happened for Australia. As many Australians per capita lost as Americans in the World Trade centre. Suddenly we're not so safe at this end of the world. NZ is mourning for Australia - our hearts go out to you across the Tasman.
Jackie
> Yeah, I had heard of the sniper, but being Australian, Bali was foremost in my mind when I posted. Over here we are also having daily coverage, but of Bali (every normal news bulletin also gives "updates" of the sniper, but it is hard to update with no new information).
>
> My post was not just about Bali, but the world in general including the sniper. I was going to mention everything I was talking about in my post, but the list of awful things happening was never ending, so I gave up.
>
> Bali has hit so hard for Australians because it is THE holiday spot. The reason it is so popular is because Australians are welcomed, cared for, and extremely safe there. You expect a certain degree of crime in your daily life, but for something like that to happen whilst people are at their most vulnerable - on holiday, relaxing and carefree... I have awful images in my mind of people wearing sarongs being blown up.
Posted by Jackster on October 21, 2002, at 5:24:25
In reply to Re: Beardy..., posted by Jackster on October 21, 2002, at 4:51:26
.
Posted by IsoM on October 21, 2002, at 15:49:33
In reply to Beardy..., posted by Rach on October 20, 2002, at 2:19:27
I heard what one woman from Australia had to say about the bombing & understand how you feel. For Australians who know the world isn't safe, they still felt that Bali was safe. I know from before (I love Bali) that Bali was multicultural, multireligions, very accepting & laid-back. It showed a sweet, gentle view of what many diff peoples living together could be like. For a place so remotely connected with violence & hatred, to have 3 bombs go off like that is unthinkable. I just heard on the news that somewhere in Australia has been bombed now. I'm going back to check it out. My sympathies to you, Rach.
Posted by BeardedLady on October 21, 2002, at 19:38:24
In reply to Re: Bali and Australia » Rach, posted by IsoM on October 21, 2002, at 15:49:33
Yes, I heard about Australia today. It's funny, but I always think of that as a neutral zone. It's so unusual to hear about any kind of war there.
I hope you are far from the turmoil, Rach.
beardy
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