I don't usually go in for those personal this-morning-I-walked-the-dog posts. But, this morning I was awakened by the strongest earthquake I'd ever experienced. I was in San Diego in 1970 when a bad one hit Los Angeles. I was in Rome a few years ago when a pretty big one damaged Assisi and parts of Umbria. But nothing was like what I felt last night. CNN is reporting that at least 2 have died; the Italian TV news has it up to 20 already.
It was the middle of the night when I heard my second daughter, the 9-year-old cry out. I couldn't understand why the whole house was shaking for a few seconds. When my sleep-addled brain clicked on to the realization of what was happening, I felt a kind of fear and powerlessness that I've rarely felt. Then it was over.
I stayed with my daughter, who couldn't easily get back to sleep. My wife and mother-in-law went to the TV. As I was falling back to sleep, I was reflecting on how the things I spend most of my time worrying about become unimportant in the face of something like this. Today I feel grateful to be alive. I feel happy and optimistic. There's nothing like a natural disaster, or a near encounter with one, to make me appreciate what I have.
Now, back to our regular programming.
MikeB,
ReplyDeleteAnd if that earthquake had disrupted the area, what would you have done?
Imagine a Hurricane Katrina impact to the area from the quake.
Could you have provided food and water for your family?
Could you have provided first aid for your family?
Could you have protected them from rioting and looting?
This is one of the reasons people like me have firearms. I live in a large city in between two very large cities. I have seen rioting, I have seen looting, I have seen the aftermath of natural disasters.
It is my responsibility to look after my family, to protect my family.
Are you prepared to take care of your family?
Wow. I've never been in anything like that. Not sure what I would tell the kids.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you and yours are ok. God bless.
Man, I have just been seeing the reports on French news and I was wondering if you felt it in Rome.
ReplyDeleteI have heard a few different rating for the Richter measurement, but it's definitely over 6.2.
Glad you and your family are okay!!
I have only experienced a few earthquakes in my life, all pretty mild bumps...
The wierdest was when I was visiting Yorba Linda where my sister lives and was bike riding and thought I hit something in the road...the bike left the ground, or vice versa...I went back and looked for what I hit...NADA!
Then I listened to radio and heard the talk shows going wild and I realized I had just experienced a 3.6 earthquake...
In regards to Bob S, the Italian social system is far better than the American model. There are dozens of civil protection people working in the earthquake area, in addition to the already strong communal bonds in the community where the quake struck.
ReplyDeleteUnless you have lived here in Italy for any extended amount of time, you will not understand the difference between america and Italy. Mike would not need a gun to protect his family because no else has guns. Food and water would be provided by the state and the Katrina Hurricane exposed America and the world to the inability of the US government to provide for its own citizens.
There would never be any looting and rioting because most eveyone gets along here in Italy.
I believe Mike is proving for his family as an American by understanding that American leaders don't give a shit about the average Americans like you and I and raised a family in Italy. He can move back to the states, but I believe he is wise and is raising his family where he doesn't need a gun, does not have to worry about riots, and has good state provided health care.
Mike, glad you and yours are only shaken, not hurt. I really hope I never have to experience what an earthquake is like.
ReplyDeleteBob, I get that you think you're right and that it's really, really important that we all have guns to protect ourselves, but it seems pretty insensitive to go straight to that as a response without even so much as a "glad you're ok." More importantly, it takes away from whatever persuasive power your argument might have otherwise had. Instead of seeing any logic in your words, all I was struck by was the insensitivity of the tone.
Actually, I read good wishes between the lines of Bob's comment. I thank you all.
ReplyDeleteThinking back on what it was like in those moments, I remembered that I had a vague memory of the fact that directly next door to our condominium they've just finished building another one. This image led me to wonder if our building was breaking apart for some reason, construction related. That's about the time the earthquake realization came in. It was frightening. I imagine the feeling would be similar to being swept overboard during a gale - total powerlessness. I think in the last few seconds before the shaking stopped I was resigning myself to whatever was about to come.
Il Principe,
ReplyDeleteYou've never seen a break down in society have you?
Sorry but I tend to discount the best of some people in times of unrest. There are thugs out there that will take advantage of any situation
Mike would not need a gun to protect his family because no else has guns.
So, when 5 or 6 people come walking up, asking to share the food, or shelter, or supplies, or women or kids...MikeB is going to be assured that they have the best of intentions...because they are Italian? HMM, what was that about the mafia and where it came from?
Food and water would be provided by the state
It is the responsibility of each person to be able to provide food and water for their families, not the state. The state sends in supplies to SUPPLEMENT, not REPLACE the goods people should have on hand.
and the Katrina Hurricane exposed America and the world to the inability of the US government to provide for its own citizens.
Sorry, but once again you are wrong. Most of the problems occurred prior to the arrival of the long term federal assistance. The looting issues occurred because the LOCAL and STATE government failed to get the people out. The LOCAL and STATE governments FAILED TO FOLLOW their own procedures. Ask Mayor Nagin why the school buses were flooded instead of being used to evacuate people?
Ask Mayor Nagin why the Superdome was unable to supply food and water for those sheltered there? (hint, they weren't supposed to be there).
It is federal emergency assistance...not complete and total care.
There would never be any looting and rioting because most everyone gets along here in Italy.
Right, everyone gets along in Italy
NAPLES, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Immigrants rioted in a southern Italian town on Friday after six Africans were shot dead at a tailor's shop, in what police said they suspected was fallout from a drug-related turf war.
Dozens of rioters smashed windows, flipped cars and threw rocks at police, calling for justice and accusing law enforcement of racism for assuming the victims were drug traffickers.
Television footage showed young men wielding metal bars halting traffic and making motorists leave their vehicles.
"We want justice. It's not true that our murdered friends sold drugs or were mobsters," one protester told reporters
Italy Faces up to Soccer Violence
A massive football riot on Friday in the Sicilian town of Catania resulted in the death of a police officer and the cancellation of professional games scheduled for the weekend. But what happens next?
While I will grant it appears Italy is less violent then many nations...it is far from Eden.
As far as me being insensitive, get a grip people. I read his post. If there was a reason to express concerns I would have. He statedt that he stayed with his daughter, he stated that he fell back to sleep. Hardly anything to be concerned about...especially when he signs off with "Now, back to our regular programming."
It isn't just about firearms, it is about being prepared. As I stated earlier, it is the responsibility of every person to be prepared to survive and THRIVE at least a few days completely on their own.
And forgive me if this sounds sexist, but in my opinion is it especially the responsibility of a husband and father to make sure that his family can survive.
As a former Marine, MikeB should be better prepared and able to respond then most.
Notice that I talked about food and water, first aid....and then protection. That is the order of business and that is what I listed first. It constantly amazes me people that there are people who expect the government to take care of them and their family no matter what may happen.
92 people are being reported dead at this time. If the emergency had been worse, would MikeB add to the government burden or be able to help his family, his neighbors, his friends, his adopted country?
I'm guessing that MikeB would be another person standing in the road demanding food, shelter, complaining the government isn't moving fast enough.
I don't have a lot of respect for those people.
Bob said, "As a former Marine, MikeB should be better prepared and able to respond then most."
ReplyDeleteAnd in the next breath.
"I'm guessing that MikeB would be another person standing in the road demanding food, shelter, complaining the government isn't moving fast enough.
I don't have a lot of respect for those people."
What's your problem, Bob? Because I disagree with you on guns, you have to go to such lengths to insult me with a completely gratuitous imaginary example of how I would react in an emergency? Why? Is there a point there?
Is that based on the idea that any man who isn't willing to arm himself to protect his family would cower when confronted with an emergency?
How about this Bob. You've heard the theory that having a gun in the home makes it far more likely that you'll have some kind of mishap with it than an opportunity to use it defensively. I believe that. But I don't go around calling you names and denigrating your very personal decision to do it your way. You're not giving me the same respect.
You told me once that the reason you carry, in spite of the statistically low possibility of ever needing the gun, is because if you do ever need it the possible consequences are too severe to be unprepared for them. You said something like that, remember. Well, so is lightning, you don't carry a lightning rod, do you? What about a building falling on your head? Do you wear a hard hat everywhere? Of course not. Reasonable people weigh the pros and cons of gun ownership and conclude with me that it's a no brainer. Having a gun increases your chances of getting hurt instead of decreasing them.
But the point is, I don't denigrate or ridicule or insult you for your personal decision.
You on the other hand, in a totally unnecessary example, have me on the side of the road, pathetic, with my hand out. That's not nice, Bob.
MikeB,
ReplyDeleteBut I don't go around calling you names and denigrating your very personal decision to do it your way.
Yes, YOU DO.
Every time you say that I and people like me are responsible for the horrendous crimes of others you denigrate my very personal decision and my way of life.
Every time you say that people like me are part of the "flow" of guns and need to have our rights restricted, you denigrate my choices.
Deal with it.
Is that based on the idea that any man who isn't willing to arm himself to protect his family would cower when confronted with an emergency?
No, it is based on your actions, your words up to this point.
You stated you aren't sure what you would do if someone came to hurt your family, if you don't know how you would handle that emergency, I have to doubt you are prepared to meet other emergencies.
Do you have at least 3 days worth of food and water ready at all times for your family? First aid?
I was responding to S & Il, about how I was insensitive, did I hit a nerve with you MikeB? Are you unprepared?
I explained, it may be sexist, but I think as a father and a husband it is your job and mine to be ready for emergencies. And yes, that includes being able to defend your family and yourself.
Am I not allowed to have my opinions and express them, if they hurt your feelings?
You've heard the theory that having a gun in the home makes it far more likely that you'll have some kind of mishap with it than an opportunity to use it defensively. I believe that.
And do you know where that theory came from? How the "researcher" who developed it came to those conclusions?
I do. I've studied the report. I researched the issue. I evaluated the risks involved and came to my own decision. Shouldn't you respect me for my decision instead of calling me part of the actions of a criminal as you have repeatedly done?
You want respect MikeB, but you don't seem to be willing to give it to those you disagree with.
Don't confuse respect with being polite...which is what I see you doing.
Well, so is lightning, you don't carry a lightning rod, do you?
I don't have to carry a lightening rod to reduce my chances of being struck. I take sensible precautions including having lightening strike protection on my home. So, in a way, yes I do. It is called my brain. Seems to be working I haven't been struck yet.
What about a building falling on your head? Do you wear a hard hat everywhere? Of course not
I wear a hard hat where it is appropriate. I've evaluated the risks of buildings falling on my head and determined that most buildings are safe enough for me to go without.
On the other hand, evaluating the risks and consequences of CRIME has shown me that it isn't safe enough to go most places without a firearm. I mean, really who could imagine someone parking a car on the back door of a civic building and shooting at people inside it.
Or try to imagine someone walking into a church building and shooting at people.
Or how about walking into a convenience store and finding it being robbed....never going to happen? Despite the fact that the corner store 0.6 of a mile from my house has been robbed. A store I frequent often.
Reasonable people come to different decisions.
Reasonable people respect the rights of others and don't call for a "reinterpretation of the 2nd amendment".
"Don't confuse respect with being polite...which is what I see you doing."
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think I've been polite, at least. But, I think you're confusing respect with agreement. My questioning the philosophical position of gun owners and whether that position taints them with the problems generated by gun availability, is not a personal attack. It could be a general one, I guess.
I respect your right to do whatever you want and have whatever opinions you what. I disagree with them, but I've been careful to express that disagreement respectfully, which means no name calling and no personal attacks.
Why don't you try that for a while?
"My questioning the philosophical position of gun owners and whether that position taints them with the problems generated by gun availability, is not a personal attack. It could be a general one, I guess."
ReplyDeleteExactly. Advocates of a private gun-ownership society should have to answer for the consequences of that policy choice in the realm of public debate. That is different from assigning "personal" responsibility. We discussed this distinction in detail the other week.
Thanks Don. Did you share with us once that you yourself are a gun owner? Do you think gun owners who profess the ideas of Bob S. are in a minority? What do you think the percentages are?
ReplyDelete