I had to feel powerless for someone to feel strong. I had to feel terror for someone else to feel safe. But mostly I had to embrace death for someone else to feel alive.
While I wasted my breath with the Head of Security for the college. I also was telling him my observations that could have drastically helped them secure the premises. Door latch ideas that could seal rooms that their welding department could build easily enough.
Ideas for protocols that could save lives all fell on deaf ears because no one had been shot or injured physically. Some injuries do not bleed red or ooze puss. But they pour out insecurity, turn your life to the color of fear.
Why are these injures never taken care of ? My theory is that no one wants to admit that they have no idea on how to handle what they cannot see. It is either physical or make believe for people that learn from movies and television shows.
The same people that think bodies make great bullet proof jackets. And kitchen tables are perfect for cover. Never once trying to understand that the mind has the same need for security that our bodies do.
It is confounding that if someone had lost a life or had a injury we would have had more options maybe.
We as a culture have given up on people’s rights in lieu of individual rights. We have decided to no longer care for our fellow man and settled on what affects me. I will always remember that day of stoic faced fear and hollow bravery.
The fact that at least 14 other people in a room with me all have to deal with this everlasting memory is beyond reason. The fact most of these incidents go without media attention and without after event protocols is probably one of the worst things we do to each other day to day.
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Read more in this series by Brian Cardoza, here.
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Illustration by author. Used with permission.
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