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What
To Do
MIKE'S
LIST IS A HUMOR-ORIENTED TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER,
but nothing is funny this week. In the wake of the terrorist attacks
Tuesday, I would like to dedicate this issue to the deceased; their
families, friends and loved ones; the rescue workers laboring around
the clock to save those who can be saved; the agents and police
tracking down suspects; U.S. military service people who must now
inevitably put themselves in danger abroad; and everyone else
directly affected by this horrible attack.
There is
so much I would like to say about all this, and I am trying to say
as little as possible. But there are three things I simply must put
out there, for whatever it may be worth.
1.
Fight bigotry. In the wake of this attack, many in the United
States and elsewhere will be unfortunately tempted to vent their
frustration and anger on any nearby Muslim or Arab. This is wrong.
Islam is a global religion closely related to -- and very similar in
many respects to -- Christianity and Judaism. You'll find dramatic
ethnic, racial, cultural and, yes, even religious diversity within
the religion. The only connection between this act of terrorism and
Islam is that the terrorists cling to a twisted view of the religion
to justify their campaigns of mass murder. Arabs are simply people
who happen to speak the Arabic language. Not all Arabs are Muslims.
Not all Muslims are Arabs. Not all terrorists are Arabic-speaking
Muslims. And more than 99% of all Arabs and Muslims are totally
innocent of violent crimes. We should all vocally reject the use of
this horrible tragedy as justification for anti-Muslim or anti-Arab
bigotry. The punishment of a group based on the perceived crimes of
members of that group is itself an act of terrorism.
2. Be
smart about security. None of the proposals for tightening
airline security currently being implemented -- no curb-side
check-in, bomb-sniffing dogs, no non-passengers in terminals, etc.
-- would have prevented Tuesday's terrorist attack. The terrorists
succeeded because they outsmarted the FAA. We should all reject
their useless and ridiculous "security" measures, like
asking everyone if they packed their own luggage. Here are proposals
I have not heard, but that we should all demand: 1) build a strong
locked door separating pilots from the cabin, so pilots have time to
notify authorities of hijacks; 2) quickly develop and implement
technology enabling pilots to irrevocably hand control of airplanes
over to ground-based pilots or to computer systems that can land
planes at the nearest airport; 3) train and equip flight attendants
to subdue hijackers armed with small weapons like box-cutters.
3.
Rebuild the towers. The people who masterminded and carried out
the attack never built anything. They can only destroy things. Let's
not allow terrorists to redesign the greatest city on earth. We
should build a new World Trade Center -- 150 stories high -- and
make it a marvel of modern construction and safety.
If you
agree with any of this, please be very vocal about it. Write your
local and national newspapers. Forward this e-mail to everyone you
know. Take action.
Thanks
for listening, folks. Below you'll find links to technology-related
aspects of this unfolding story.
Mike
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