Fear Itself.
A security drill at a Nairobi university on Monday was mistaken for a terrorist attack, leading to the death of a staff member and injuries to 37 people. As the police carried out the training exercise at Strathmore University, many students and staff members believed they had to flee for their lives, with some people jumping from tall buildings, said the university’s communications director, Betty Ngala. Video images showed terrified students and staff members standing on window ledges. An unidentified staff member was killed, and about 15 people were taken to hospitals for treatment. Most of them sustained broken bones after “jumping from high floors,” Ms. Ngala said. An additional 22 people were treated for less severe injuries at the scene. Students said they had been startled by what they thought was gunfire, which led them to rush to escape. The exercise, the university said in a statement, was intended to test “the preparedness of the university community and emergency team in the event of an attack.” The statement added, “Unfortunately some students and staff panicked.”
There's really no quick fixes here.
Do we want to live in a world of violence, where intimidation, force and threats are an effective tool in maintaining control?
Or do we choose to live in a world of reason, where art, science and knowledge rule in conjunction with civil laws? Right now, we are choosing to dominate by force. It's the American way, they tell us. Only by responding in kind to terror can we be free.
So they tell us...
Plenty of us reject that.
We're not fearful, honestly.
We're not naive, or stupid.
We just don't dwell on the easy coast,
court enemies, take possessions
of others and think we can remain free
and easy and enjoying life. If we don't respect lives
why would we ever expect to be respected by others?
If warfare is the rule, and the mightiest win despite
who is innocent -- with payoffs to the dead and the geniuses
who have it all figured out... why expect the game to end anytime soon?
Fear itself. What a waste of one's life.
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