My blog usually features pictures of buses, not long rants. But I hope you’ll take some time to read this post and follow some of the links (which themselves could take hours)
MIT’s Green Building with a black ribbon
“When children are terrorists, we are all terrorists.”
These are the words of a Yemeni man from al-Majalah in the documentary Dirty Wars (trailer below).
The US missile that struck al-Majalah in 2009 reportedly killed 41 people, more than half of them children. If the US government and public are so willing to gloss over this collateral and, by denying and concealing it, essentially label children terrorists, who in Yemen is safe? Perhaps this is the most straightforward interpretation of his statement: if even children can be targets, nobody is innocent enough to be safe. The family of the eight year-old boy killed at the Marathon finish line, and many others in Boston, now know this fear all too well.
Because of the United States’ racially tinged “global war on terror,” people around the world face such fear daily:
Those living under drones have to face the constant worry that a deadly strike may be fired at any moment, and the knowledge that they are powerless to protect themselves. These fears have affected behavior. The US practice of striking one area multiple times, and evidence that it has killed rescuers, makes both community members and humanitarian workers afraid or unwilling to assist injured victims. Some community members shy away from gathering in groups, including important tribal dispute-resolution bodies, out of fear that they may attract the attention of drone operators. Some parents choose to keep their children home, and children injured or traumatized by strikes have dropped out of school. Waziris told our researchers that the strikes have undermined cultural and religious practices related to burial, and made family members afraid to attend funerals. (Living Under Drones)
As Farea Al-Muslimi testified to a Senate Committee last week after a drone attack on his village in Yemen: “This fear permeates our country and it is shared by the youngest and oldest Yeminis. A middle age man from Rada’a, in central Yemen, said in an interview recently: “In the past, mothers used to tell their kids to go to bed or I will call your father. Now, they say, ‘Go to bed or I will call the planes.’”
Anger
The man grieves his community’s losses. While his tone was not threatening, anger is a natural part of the grieving process. His statement raises the concern that the US government’s continued killing of children and innocent civilians will create anger that ferments into hate, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of terrorism.
Take it from a Stanford/NYU study: “The number of “high-level” targets killed as a percentage of total casualties is extremely low—estimated at just 2%.
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
Emergency Communication
An armed intruder was discovered in Wharton and has fled. No one was harmed. Police are on the scene. Watch e-mail for further details.
T experiencing delays, dispatchers asking operators to hold connections and apologize to passengers for delays.
Route 8 is being diverted due to Boston Celtic Championship Celebrations. Boston Police have closed Brookline Ave. from Park Dr. to Beacon St.
Inbound Connections can be made Brookine Ave and Park Dr.. Outbound Connections can be made at Kenmore Station.
6/18/2008 12:20 AM
Officers currently sweeping Faneuil requested to sweep the large Government Center garage after they sweep the Hall. People are setting up a party there with loudspeakers.
Outside fire reported at 6 Beacon Street
Power outage reported. Edison working to restore service.
Officer injured at Brookline and Fenway: Two ambulances requested.
Ambulance requested at 125 Tremont for a head injury.… Read the rest
More cars needed at Brookline and Fenway and Longwood and Fenway.
Officers stop a large white bus with 20 people on the roof at 281 Newbury St.
Reported Vandalism, 90 Canal St.
Fire Dispatch: “Engine 4 has report of a man down, police, in Area A1.”
Hit and Run – Female struck by a vehicle at N. Washington and Endicott. Mass License Plate 420ZW (2004 White Ford Explorer, registered in Lynnfield), heading from the North End to Charlestown. Confusion as to whether an officer is currently with the victim.… Read the rest
Mass Ave. and Boylston (Just across the Harvard Bridge from my place):
Officer: “The diverting traffic here seems to be working – we’ve still got a couple hundred but they’re losing steam”
Fire Dept. investigating 239-251 Hanover St.
Fire Dept. responding to 204 Prescott
Transit Officer needed at Maverick Station
Shots Fired: Dispatcher using ShotSpotter: “It sounded like a high-powered rifle, possibly a 30-30 Winchester” [Later disregarded due to the "celebratory time" of the night]
Sending three buses to pick up officers at Boylston and Brookline [Directly across the Charles River from my place]
[Hearing lots of horns and sirens on the radio]… Read the rest
Dispatcher request that officers “Stop traffic coming on Brighton Ave from Harvard Ave”
Brookline Ave is already closed down
T Dispatcher: “All operators please use caution. We have a lot of people celbrating out there and they could run in front of vehicles. All operators please reduce your speeds and use caution”… Read the rest
The Lakers just lost 131-92. I’m glad that I replaced the antenna on my scanner radio. Pretty awesome police action so far, and it’s only 12:25. A lot of it is happening between the LMA and Kenmore, on the route I walked home from work today. Highlights so far have included “throwing barrels,” fires, and police bus logistics.
Officer: “…fires…and we’re getting overrun”
Dispatcher: “I know they’re being overrun over there with the kids starting the fires and climing the scaffolding down there, but I only have one wagon to send”
Officer: “Meet us down with the gear, we’re gonna get suited up”
A fugitive from New Jersey is believed to be in the neighorhood setting fire to apartments…
Police believe that Prall may have set fire to a Broadway apartment building to smoke out a former girlfriend. Prall is said to frequent Boston and Cambridge homeless shelters as well as the streets of Central Square. [from Bostonist]
Central Square is about a 15 minute walk away…I’ll need to be extra vigilant about crazy arsonists.… Read the rest
![[del.icio.us]](http://ansoncfit.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://ansoncfit.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://ansoncfit.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://ansoncfit.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Email]](http://ansoncfit.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
