February 2023 - PhotoTrice Studio

Shelter In Place – The New Duck and Cover

The recent history of gun violence in U.S. schools makes the phrase ‘Shelter In Place’ a common expression. Now it seems with the latest posturing East and West, it has new meaning; ‘Duck and Cover’. My childhood fear revisited as an additional burden on young people of today.

I remember seeing the Duck and Cover safety films in in grade school class. Nowadays we laugh about the cute turtle teaching us to avoid the nuclear flash and find shelter. It was absurd to think about surviving such an attack.

Being free to explore and feeling safe were the things I took for granted growing up in America. At least my schoolrooms were safe from assault rifles. Now it seems children must consider another unthinkable danger.

Next Time Take the Train

The governor looks into the camera and says, “Sure, I’d drink the water”. I wonder whether he would be so cheerful if he had to drink from that well for the rest of his life? Maybe not.

The railroad CEO says, “We are committed to making sure everything gets cleaned-up and back to normal. Well I guess they could reroute the river, dig up a square mile of soil and destroy a few houses. That would be a start. Maybe not.

As I sit here with the background hum of my oxygen concentrator, I’m skeptical about life returning to normal after a massive toxic spill in any small town. My fear is that a few hundred residents of a crossroads village are small sacrifice for the governor and the CEO. Both will likely move on and forget the whole episode.

Looking at the hopelessness in the eyes of residents, you know, they know the score. Another day in paradise.