My wife and I were about to go to bed last night when the phone rang. Something told me that no one calls that time of night if it’s not important, so I answered it. It was an automated message from the school district, which is usually not that important. But then they also don’t usually call that late, either. So I kept listening.
Someone reported seeing a threat against our youngest son’s middle school on social media. The message didn’t detail the threat, but indicated that while they did not think it was credible, the police were investigating and would have officers on site today. School district officials would also be on hand. They would understand if any parents wanted to keep their children home today.
Not that we had to worry about today. Our son was actually scheduled to be off campus today with the band. But still, two main thoughts ran through my mind. For one, I was glad the school district was taking it seriously. But for another, it occurred to me that today would probably be the safest day to be in school. No one would dare try anything today after that much attention. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t wait until things calm down and people forget.
We’ve heard nothing more today except an email from the principal indicating that nothing happened today and the matter has been investigated and the poster has been dealt with. It’s business as usual on Monday. But this is the new world we live in. And let’s face it, even on days when no one knows of a threat it doesn’t mean there is no threat. Same can be said for where I work, the store I’ll be going to tonight. The world is a safe place until it’s not.
Most of the time there will be no warning. Some idiot runs a red light. An airplane crashes into your neighborhood. A random psycho goes on a spree. Guns, knives, cars, bombs–does it really matter what they use? Someone’s life will be changed dramatically, even if no one is killed.
I read an article the other day that a college professor is resigning from a campus committee because she couldn’t bear the thought that there would be conservative students on that committee. Really? We have enough to be afraid of without having to make up threats. Idiots with SUVs are a real threat, not someone with a different perspective.
Speaking of perspective, we really need a nation-wide adjustment of ours.
Life is precious, magnificent, even thrilling. We shouldn’t waste any more of it than necessary worrying about the dangers we can do so little about, let alone imagining threats that just aren’t so.