So who actually joined up?

[Don Gwinn]

Son is a great guy, and I admire him, but he and John told me I should stay put, take care of the kids and make sure the family works, and that's what I'm going to do.

 

But yes, in any group there are more talkers than doers. And yes, people born in America find it too easy to forget that this could still all go away.

[omnifinite]

I have the most respect for the people who didn't need 9/11 to do these things... they were doing them before, during, and afterward regardless.

 

Technically they would go in the "do nothing" column, wouldn't they?

[SaiFightsMS]

I kind of like the way omnifinite thinks.

 

Also I think many who are seemingly doing nothing are now being more aware of their neighbors. Seeing if they need a hand - doing little things like that. Things that would not necessarily be apparent on first look but make a difference all the same.

 

Not everyone can be a ranger. Not everyone can be a fireman, paramedic or police officer. But everyone can lend a helping hand to a neighbor. And that adds up.

[Bitseach]

No, I agree with you both, Omni and Sai - one doesn't have to be Action Man/Woman or GI Joe/Jane. If anything, I believe that the little changes that we make are more important than the things that people can shout about. However most people could do some form of help in the community, whatever their time or physical constraints.

 

True, I should have perhaps rephrased the poll or added a section like, "couldn't do any more voluntary work if I tried as I do so much now" but I couldn't work out how best to phrase it! (That's kind of my situation also so I voted myself into the voluntary work bit!) I suppose it has increased the volunteer hours that I do now, and 11/9 has certainly made us think and plan a lot more for major incidents, rethinking command and control especially with regards comms and the likely comms breakdown in the event of a majax. I am involved with this planning in my local area and it is quite a headache!

 

However it is also something that we in the UK and in London especially have always had to factor in as we have always had a threat from Irish terrorism (although the last major bomb in London was not from Irish terrorists but from a lone right-wing gun-freak nutcase that left nail-bombs in areas with a high number of Asian, Black and finally gay people in it)(hurrah for closed-circuit TV cameras which were what identified him and led to his capture and conviction). There really are a LOT of crazies out there!