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Boston Logan Airport fire drill with heavy fire and billowing smoke on 9/11 just plain dumb
A fire drill today at Logan International Airport that sent smoke billowing into the sky was called “dumb” by Gov. Deval Patrick who lashed out at Massport for staging the event on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks all while grieving families attended remembrance ceremonies around the city. “I didn’t know it was going to happen. It’s just dumb,” Patrick said of the drill, which TV news footage showed featuring heavy fire and billowing smoke at the seaside airport. “The… (bostonherald.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
This was very bad timing... I hope they think about this in the future plannings of these events.
The drill itself is probably good exercise but the timing itself is just plain dumb dumb dumb. Not only does 9/11 bring back painful memories but it is also the day when terror alert seems to be higher than usual and was there a need to engage personnel in a drill?
I would think that with hundreds of people involved in this exercise that one or more would have said something like......."it IS the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, do you think this is proper?" Live and learn I suppose.
Given that the jihadists and their fellow travelers tend to "celebrate" 9-11 with events like Benghazi etc, a little judgment could have been exercised and maybe skipped the smoke and visual effects. While all the employees likely understood what was transpiring, certainly travelers did not and would logically think we were being revisited...you know, work place violence.
Or maybe we should get live our lives - not letting them dictate what we do and how we do it. Would I have personally "okay'ed" this drill, NO - but I wish I could say yes - I wish we as people living in a free world would choose not to allow the terrorists do achieve their goal - to remember their attack and change our ways - show them respect and reverence - no - I say we all must learn to tell the jihadists to F off - and purposely live our lives as if nothing happens- for the simple purpose of not letting them win
It is this - this discussion, this topic - all of it - that the terrorists really wanted. They were happy to kill and destroy, but what they really wanted was to change us, and get us to talk about them, and lose some freedoms, and learn about them- WHY ARE WE LETTING THEM WIN?
It is this - this discussion, this topic - all of it - that the terrorists really wanted. They were happy to kill and destroy, but what they really wanted was to change us, and get us to talk about them, and lose some freedoms, and learn about them- WHY ARE WE LETTING THEM WIN?
I'm not against people living their lives, I dint think we need another national holiday day if remembrance, etc.
In Bismark, ND or in Jakarta, or any other unrelated locations have your drills all you want. In a few intimately related locations such as NYC, DC, Boston, Shanksville PA, any action that simulates a terrorist attack is not appropriate (for as long as we have survivors around who lived through the original events).
It's not about the terrorists at all. It's not about letting them win or not. It's about showing respect for the survivors and families of the perished. A little respect is not that much to ask.
Now if a highly publicized memorial ceremony, involving the actual survivors and families who previously chose to use fire and smoke in their ceremony, that would be fine.
But for people to see an unexpected dark plume of smoke rising from the vicinity of the airport on a day that terrorists have shown a desire to attack, without any prior advance public notice is just careless planning and disrespectful of the public, particularly those who are most closely linked to events of that day.
So let's not let them win. But this wasn't careful and respectful managing of powerful symbols. It was merely carelessly disrespectful. We can do better.
In Bismark, ND or in Jakarta, or any other unrelated locations have your drills all you want. In a few intimately related locations such as NYC, DC, Boston, Shanksville PA, any action that simulates a terrorist attack is not appropriate (for as long as we have survivors around who lived through the original events).
It's not about the terrorists at all. It's not about letting them win or not. It's about showing respect for the survivors and families of the perished. A little respect is not that much to ask.
Now if a highly publicized memorial ceremony, involving the actual survivors and families who previously chose to use fire and smoke in their ceremony, that would be fine.
But for people to see an unexpected dark plume of smoke rising from the vicinity of the airport on a day that terrorists have shown a desire to attack, without any prior advance public notice is just careless planning and disrespectful of the public, particularly those who are most closely linked to events of that day.
So let's not let them win. But this wasn't careful and respectful managing of powerful symbols. It was merely carelessly disrespectful. We can do better.
Photo -
This wasn't disrespectful at all. It was their job. They practice year round at every major airport like here at ORD. Everyone knows when you see smoke rising at the airport - and then put out quickly that it is another practice session. It's not some random act that happens once a year and they picked 9/11 as a "powerful symbol" - its a normal everyday thing.
They were living their everyday lives, that's not wrong - in fact, that's beautiful. It's kinda nice to see people not tiptoeing around on 9/11- living their normal life- doing what they normally would. That means they were healing - they were able to look past what those shitty terrorists did - and move on.
Let me ask you a question - photo finish - here in Chicago we test out tornado sirens every Tuesday and Thursday - year round. Should we not test them on 9/11 if it falls on one of those days? After all - they are air raid sirens!!
How about the test of the emergency broadcast system on TV / radio? If it falls on 9/11 should we skip it?
I think, I hope you see my point - it's good to live our normal lives. I for one will be happy when 9/11 is treated the way 12/7 is treated today. That's a good thing. A very good thing in fact.
Would they do a fire drill on 12/7? After all planes were used for the attack at Pearl Harbor. Of course they would- they wouldn't even think twice!!
It's not that I don't respect 9/11 - personally - I cry every year. I wish it didn't bother me but it does. But I am happy to see people living their lives normally on that day. And I r rally dispise anyone for outing someone for doing just that. If you were in charge of the drill - you could choose to not do it on 9/11 - and you know what - that's fine. But you're not. So don't shake your finger at those who are moving on - and treating it as just another day.
It's a dangerous thing when people make it sound as if someone did something wrong for something like this. To make them a target - saying they were disrespectful - or non-patriotic... Should the man responsible get a reprimand? Demoted? Fired? Yelled at? Jailed? Beaten? Humiliated?
9/11/2001 was horrible, but there are 12 year old kids for whom this is ancient history. They are 12!!!! When do we as a people move on? When do these articles go away? When do people learn to live and let live?
This wasn't disrespectful at all. It was their job. They practice year round at every major airport like here at ORD. Everyone knows when you see smoke rising at the airport - and then put out quickly that it is another practice session. It's not some random act that happens once a year and they picked 9/11 as a "powerful symbol" - its a normal everyday thing.
They were living their everyday lives, that's not wrong - in fact, that's beautiful. It's kinda nice to see people not tiptoeing around on 9/11- living their normal life- doing what they normally would. That means they were healing - they were able to look past what those shitty terrorists did - and move on.
Let me ask you a question - photo finish - here in Chicago we test out tornado sirens every Tuesday and Thursday - year round. Should we not test them on 9/11 if it falls on one of those days? After all - they are air raid sirens!!
How about the test of the emergency broadcast system on TV / radio? If it falls on 9/11 should we skip it?
I think, I hope you see my point - it's good to live our normal lives. I for one will be happy when 9/11 is treated the way 12/7 is treated today. That's a good thing. A very good thing in fact.
Would they do a fire drill on 12/7? After all planes were used for the attack at Pearl Harbor. Of course they would- they wouldn't even think twice!!
It's not that I don't respect 9/11 - personally - I cry every year. I wish it didn't bother me but it does. But I am happy to see people living their lives normally on that day. And I r rally dispise anyone for outing someone for doing just that. If you were in charge of the drill - you could choose to not do it on 9/11 - and you know what - that's fine. But you're not. So don't shake your finger at those who are moving on - and treating it as just another day.
It's a dangerous thing when people make it sound as if someone did something wrong for something like this. To make them a target - saying they were disrespectful - or non-patriotic... Should the man responsible get a reprimand? Demoted? Fired? Yelled at? Jailed? Beaten? Humiliated?
9/11/2001 was horrible, but there are 12 year old kids for whom this is ancient history. They are 12!!!! When do we as a people move on? When do these articles go away? When do people learn to live and let live?
I can see both sides.
a) I've been a first responder at a major airport
b) I was in the South Tower hours before it fell.
But enough about me. As far as 9/11, I prefer that life not change that much for most people that day. It is good that people can go on with their lives.
Still there is absolutely no need for anyone to see smoke rising from the airport grounds on a day when some may be contemplating their experiences and the experiences of those they knew on that day. No excuse.
There are TWO planeloads of passengers that originated in BOS that day, many of whom still have family in Boston.
Inconsiderate. Disrespectful. No excuse.
a) I've been a first responder at a major airport
b) I was in the South Tower hours before it fell.
But enough about me. As far as 9/11, I prefer that life not change that much for most people that day. It is good that people can go on with their lives.
Still there is absolutely no need for anyone to see smoke rising from the airport grounds on a day when some may be contemplating their experiences and the experiences of those they knew on that day. No excuse.
There are TWO planeloads of passengers that originated in BOS that day, many of whom still have family in Boston.
Inconsiderate. Disrespectful. No excuse.
So what do you want to happen, since there is no excuse?
Should someone be fired? Demoted? Ridiculed?
What if he didn't realize it, what if he did?
I understand that people MIGHT be frightened, and that we would like to not put them through more, but at the same time everything I already mentioned...
Should we suspend the tornado siren since it is an air-raid siren? Should we not test the emergency broadcast system?
What if someone had a bonfire? should it be punishable as a terrorist act? what if he was pulling a prank? should people go go jail
and most importantly
WHO GETS TO DECIDE - and - WHAT ARE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES
see, I can see a guy who worked hard to get to his position as a manager, with a family to feed getting called into HR because of this. I can see a man seeing what he did all over the internet- with fury and hatred
How about you put yourself in that mans shoes, is he responsible for 9/11/01? should he be hated? fired? embarrassed?
here is another question - have you ever made a mistake? how would you feel if people made such a big deal about it? really try to think about what all this "controversy" would feel like if it was all on you?
what about that mans family not able to pay their bills, feed their family...
This is BS -- all of us need to leave this man alone, and be mad at the people who attacked us. Celebrate all that is good about us by not pointing your finger when someone else makes a mistake, because someday you will- and you wouldn't like being on the wrong end.
you really want to say its disrespectful, I say its the opposite in fact. I say kudos! Good for him not treating 9/11/13 like any other day. And I hope he kept his job, and was not demoted, AND I hope he hasn't gotten too much grief over this.
Our enemy is not this guy, its a terrorist organization and others like it. And when that BOS fire rescue does need to respond, I will be happy they practiced.
I am glad you were not there in the south tower when the plane hit, I was flying that day. I flew all night and into the morning. And I am nervous and scared sometimes. I don't feel good about our "procedures" if you are a pro pilot you know what I mean... would I have personally done the test that day...i am sad to say - NO.... I am sad because I wish it was over 9/11/01. But I really do look forward to a day we all are okay with a drill on 9/11... because then and only then the terrorists will stop winning. And I hate them for it. Because they won in so many ways. We won in others. We need to reverse all the bad things we did to ourselves because of 9/11, starting with the "patriot act"... which is the most unpatriotic bill I have ever seen.
Should someone be fired? Demoted? Ridiculed?
What if he didn't realize it, what if he did?
I understand that people MIGHT be frightened, and that we would like to not put them through more, but at the same time everything I already mentioned...
Should we suspend the tornado siren since it is an air-raid siren? Should we not test the emergency broadcast system?
What if someone had a bonfire? should it be punishable as a terrorist act? what if he was pulling a prank? should people go go jail
and most importantly
WHO GETS TO DECIDE - and - WHAT ARE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES
see, I can see a guy who worked hard to get to his position as a manager, with a family to feed getting called into HR because of this. I can see a man seeing what he did all over the internet- with fury and hatred
How about you put yourself in that mans shoes, is he responsible for 9/11/01? should he be hated? fired? embarrassed?
here is another question - have you ever made a mistake? how would you feel if people made such a big deal about it? really try to think about what all this "controversy" would feel like if it was all on you?
what about that mans family not able to pay their bills, feed their family...
This is BS -- all of us need to leave this man alone, and be mad at the people who attacked us. Celebrate all that is good about us by not pointing your finger when someone else makes a mistake, because someday you will- and you wouldn't like being on the wrong end.
you really want to say its disrespectful, I say its the opposite in fact. I say kudos! Good for him not treating 9/11/13 like any other day. And I hope he kept his job, and was not demoted, AND I hope he hasn't gotten too much grief over this.
Our enemy is not this guy, its a terrorist organization and others like it. And when that BOS fire rescue does need to respond, I will be happy they practiced.
I am glad you were not there in the south tower when the plane hit, I was flying that day. I flew all night and into the morning. And I am nervous and scared sometimes. I don't feel good about our "procedures" if you are a pro pilot you know what I mean... would I have personally done the test that day...i am sad to say - NO.... I am sad because I wish it was over 9/11/01. But I really do look forward to a day we all are okay with a drill on 9/11... because then and only then the terrorists will stop winning. And I hate them for it. Because they won in so many ways. We won in others. We need to reverse all the bad things we did to ourselves because of 9/11, starting with the "patriot act"... which is the most unpatriotic bill I have ever seen.
Have all the drills you want, even on 9/11. Just don't do the black smoke. Or do the black smoke, but have the media cover the drill before the drill, not just after. Inform the families beforehand. Do it every year on that day.
What I'm trying to get away from is people seeing heavy black smoke rising to the sky from the airport UNEXPECTEDLY on the day people are already thinking about terrorism and/or mourning a loss.
What happens to the person who decided to use black smoke is not my problem. We all make decisions every day for which we are held responsible. The possibility of the person having a family is a strawman that argues for lack of responsibility for our actions. So while I don't recommend disciplinary action, whether the person is disciplined or not is immaterial to the unnecessarily shocking nature of the UNEXPECTED action, that was not forecasted to the media in advance of the drill.
Whether the man or woman responsible is fired or suspended, or whether the event is swept under the rug, doesn't change the fact the it was stupid.
We can do better.
What I'm trying to get away from is people seeing heavy black smoke rising to the sky from the airport UNEXPECTEDLY on the day people are already thinking about terrorism and/or mourning a loss.
What happens to the person who decided to use black smoke is not my problem. We all make decisions every day for which we are held responsible. The possibility of the person having a family is a strawman that argues for lack of responsibility for our actions. So while I don't recommend disciplinary action, whether the person is disciplined or not is immaterial to the unnecessarily shocking nature of the UNEXPECTED action, that was not forecasted to the media in advance of the drill.
Whether the man or woman responsible is fired or suspended, or whether the event is swept under the rug, doesn't change the fact the it was stupid.
We can do better.