After the euphoria of the Hudson River landing, in which all on board were safe when it made an emergency splashdown, the news of last night’s crash fatal for all aboard comes as a special shock. And this is especially … Continue reading →
Disasters leaving no survivors are not only tragic and terrifying, they remain mysterious. If no one escapes to tell the tale, we are left to imagine how the unfortunate victims spent their last moments. Was the end quick, or did … Continue reading →
The universally acknowledged hero of yesterday, who made the Flight 1549 story one of a controlled landing rather than a plane crash, is US Air pilot Chesley Sullenberger No one who knew Sullenberger (known as “Sully”) was the least bit … Continue reading →
We can’t get enough of this story. It contains the perfect balance of suspense and joyful resolution: harrowing danger combined with rescue from what had looked to be certain and deadly harm. These ingredients are more ordinarily the stuff of … Continue reading →
No doubt you are aware that the title of this post is not a metaphor for a buying frenzy, but a description of something quite literal. At the Valley Stream, NY, Walmart, on the day after Thanksgiving, an employee was … Continue reading →
Yesterday I wrote about those who purposely place children’s lives in jeopardy in war. But children and young people also die accidently, and not only in war. Witness the twin tragedies two schools have just endured. This morning a bus … Continue reading →
It seems to be an almost inevitable part of the ritual of the Haj, despite all the efforts (and they’ve been considerable) of the Saudi government to prevent it: a stampede that kills large numbers of pilgrims. I wrote this … Continue reading →
When I first heard the stories of widespread rape, murder, and other carnage at the New Orleans Superdome and Convention Center after Katrina, I was horrified. Horrified, but skeptical. The last couple of years have taught me, as never before, … Continue reading →
I know Bush must have given an excellent speech last night because a liberal friend of mine pronounced it “moving” and “inspiring” in somewhat awed and surprised tones. Something he said, or perhaps the way he said it, touched her … Continue reading →
There’s a world of difference between skepticism and cynicism. Skeptics doubt and question in an attempt to get at the truth. Cynics doubt because they think that, by definition, every player has bad (or at least selfish) motives. What happens … Continue reading →
Yelling ‘fire’ in a crowded theater. It’s become a cliche for inciting panic–although, actually, it seems that the original phrase in the Oliver Wendell Holmes decision is “shouting” rather than “yelling.” It is forbidden to do so because of the … Continue reading →
The horrific situation in New Orleans has spawned the usual accusations: Bush’s fault, the city government is to blame, and what about the state–why didn’t it do more? In this case, I’m sure there’s plenty of blame to go around. … Continue reading →