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09/08/2004: "Save the Children"

The massacre in Beslan crossed an emotional line by making children primary targets and not collateral damage. It is almost incomprehensible that any person could be so deranged, so morally bankrupt, so filled with hatred that they are blinded to the sweet innocence of a child’s face. It’s hard to believe that people exist that don’t feel the universal need to comfort a frightened child who can’t comprehend what’s going on around them. It is hard to believe that people exist that could look at a baby, toddler, or child and then cold-bloodedly kill it. It’s hard to believe but these monsters do exist and are alive, active, and plotting around the globe right this minute.

Take a minute of your busy life right now and understand what the consequences and implications of this latest terrorist attack against western civilization means. No one and nowhere is safe. Hospitals, day care centers, schools, churches, and shopping malls are all very soft targets. Try as they might, governments cannot possibly guard, protect, and defend every potential target. But you can help by becoming more aware of your surroundings.

The attacks are not random acts of violence. It’s not one of our usual homegrown nutcases that goes postal without warning. These are carefully planned operations. They have done the surveillance and research over a period of time. In Beslan, they used construction workers to plant weapons at the site in advance. They knew the layout of the school.

Contact your school principals and inquire about what measures they have taken to keep your children’s school safe. Do they have lock down drills? How often? What’s the visitor policy? Contact your day care administrators with the same questions.

When you walk into a hospital look around. Do the employees have photo ids? Are entrances and exits monitored? Is security present on site? Are there cameras?

Talk to the pastor of your church. Find out what they have done to deal with these issues. When someone new shows up at church welcome them, look them in the eye, shake their hand and watch them. Are they acting suspiciously? Are they more interested in their surroundings than the sermon?

Now I’m not advocating that everyone turn into some paranoid schiz, what I am asking is that you proactively and pre-emptively keep thoughts of safety in your head and those around you. This Saturday is the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We have had numerous reminders around the world since then that this evil still exists. It amazes me that we have not had a direct attack again. But odds are greatly in the terrorists favor as they only have to get lucky once and we have to thwart them 100% of the time without fail. It’s not a question of if - it's a question of when.

This week marks the loss of 1000 American Soldiers in the war in Iraq. As we take a moment to honor their service, lets not let their sacrifice be in vain. Join the fight with them by doing what you can.

Look into the eyes of your children. Beslan gives new meaning to the words “Save the Children.”

Replies: 2 Comments

We've had incidents of Middle Eastern "tourists" videotaping the nuts, bolts and infrastructure of the Bay Bridge (Chesapeake Bay) and a fellow photographing the details of the grounds of a Jewish Middle school near us. As you say there is nothing paranoid about our need to be alert and aware. The Bay Bridge photographer was the wife of a Muslim brought up on charges in Chicago for diverting funds to a terrorist group.

debbie weksberg said @ 09/09/2004 06:29 PM MST

I have heard stories that many of the tips have been called into law enforcement by citizens who just happened to be driving by but were alert and concerned about such suspicious behavior. Keep our eyes opened and keep up the good work.

Leslie said @ 09/10/2004 03:22 AM MST