Glorifying Stupidity?
OK, now I'm just appalled. On 5 January, a 13-year-old in Queens walked through a broken fence intent on spraying graffiti on the Long Island Railroad. Instead, he was hit by a train and killed. When it first happened, ABC news reported it this way.
On this evening's newscast, Eyewitness News reported that Congressman Anthony Weiner is introducing legislation, which he wants to name for this boy, which will provide funding for emergency repairs to protect people from holes in fences along railroad tracks and such. And the newscast showed several people talking about how they'll feel much safer when the fences are repaired, and isn't it terrible that the MTA can't fence in the entire system.
And as reported in Newsday, the MTA is getting half a million federal dollars to look into making the system safer. ABC posted a little later than I was writing, but their article is at this link.
And not one of these screaming morons apparently gave the least little thought to something that might be far more effective: teaching 13-year-olds that playing on the railroad tracks is stupid and potentially fatal! What kind of moron walks on active train tracks, for any reason whatsoever? And why would a Congressman not think that the best solution to the problem is to say "Hey, stupid, don't walk on the tracks." Well, because that wouldn't get him on television. If you're a Congressman who wants to be featured on the tv news, the proper solution has to be getting the government to spend millions of dollars and expressing public outrage and sorrow that such a young, promising life could be so cruelly snuffed out.
The whole article is at this link, but I have to quote this section:
At a news conference unveiling the creation of the task force, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who represents Queens and Brooklyn, said he'll also introduce "Ari's Law."
The dead boy's father, Roger Kraft, told WABCTV that the law's introduction was a good start.
"Let Ari's memory be dedicated to much more than Long Island railroad tracks," he said. "Let it be dedicated toward politicians caring more about the safety of our people."
I don't want to belittle the mourning of a parent, but if we truly want this boy's death to mean more than just the railroad tracks, wouldn't it make more sense for parents to use him as an example to teach their children to not play on the train tracks?
The article continues:
The legislation would create a federal railroad safety program and direct the government to study railroad safety. The program would make $20 million in federal funding available to municipalities for fencing protective structures surrounding railroad tracks near homes and schools.
I'm disgusted. And if the Congress actually passes this law and names it after a kid who killed himself by doing something stupid, I'll be... well, it doesn't shine a good light on our society. Rather than naming a law for such a person, let's give him the Darwin Award he so richly deserves, and use him as an example to keep our children off the train tracks, whether there's a fence there or not.
Edited on 2 February to add this link to Congressman Weiner's press release about his proposed bill.
Copyright © 2007 by Ian Randal Strock
On this evening's newscast, Eyewitness News reported that Congressman Anthony Weiner is introducing legislation, which he wants to name for this boy, which will provide funding for emergency repairs to protect people from holes in fences along railroad tracks and such. And the newscast showed several people talking about how they'll feel much safer when the fences are repaired, and isn't it terrible that the MTA can't fence in the entire system.
And as reported in Newsday, the MTA is getting half a million federal dollars to look into making the system safer. ABC posted a little later than I was writing, but their article is at this link.
And not one of these screaming morons apparently gave the least little thought to something that might be far more effective: teaching 13-year-olds that playing on the railroad tracks is stupid and potentially fatal! What kind of moron walks on active train tracks, for any reason whatsoever? And why would a Congressman not think that the best solution to the problem is to say "Hey, stupid, don't walk on the tracks." Well, because that wouldn't get him on television. If you're a Congressman who wants to be featured on the tv news, the proper solution has to be getting the government to spend millions of dollars and expressing public outrage and sorrow that such a young, promising life could be so cruelly snuffed out.
The whole article is at this link, but I have to quote this section:
At a news conference unveiling the creation of the task force, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who represents Queens and Brooklyn, said he'll also introduce "Ari's Law."
The dead boy's father, Roger Kraft, told WABCTV that the law's introduction was a good start.
"Let Ari's memory be dedicated to much more than Long Island railroad tracks," he said. "Let it be dedicated toward politicians caring more about the safety of our people."
I don't want to belittle the mourning of a parent, but if we truly want this boy's death to mean more than just the railroad tracks, wouldn't it make more sense for parents to use him as an example to teach their children to not play on the train tracks?
The article continues:
The legislation would create a federal railroad safety program and direct the government to study railroad safety. The program would make $20 million in federal funding available to municipalities for fencing protective structures surrounding railroad tracks near homes and schools.
I'm disgusted. And if the Congress actually passes this law and names it after a kid who killed himself by doing something stupid, I'll be... well, it doesn't shine a good light on our society. Rather than naming a law for such a person, let's give him the Darwin Award he so richly deserves, and use him as an example to keep our children off the train tracks, whether there's a fence there or not.
Edited on 2 February to add this link to Congressman Weiner's press release about his proposed bill.
Copyright © 2007 by Ian Randal Strock