iskew

I completely apologize. I didn't realize that we could forget shit so quickly around here. And by around here I mean the entire fucking nation.

Last night I mused aloud to Cor and her Mom that I wasn't thrilled with intercollegiate Division I sports involving the Hokies not being postponed by at least a week. My rationale was that: a) D1 had the cash to delay it; b) Some of these athletes are 17-18 years old and don't have the experience that a 50 year old administrator would in knowing you need time to grieve; c) If classes are optional, than sports should be too-- and have the wisdom to postpone them (i.e. if rain can cancel a baseball game, can't a hail of bullets?); d) 9-11 killed entire professional games but a single game of squash can't get a delay thanks to the worst shooting massacre in U.S. history?; and finally, the real main reason I worried aloud... e) If the fucking country and media catches you napping at the wheel and letting games like this go on they will move on EVEN FASTER and forget about you.

Cynical? Sure.

I realize and understand all of the good reasons to let these last couple of athletic games go on, but I feel like that last reason against it is pretty damn relevant. No, I don't want to media to continue to ruin any lives, but if you want anything substantial to be learned from this we'll need this thing to stay in the spotlight a while longer.

Proof?

This photo was taken YESTERDAY in New Orleans.


In one of the several Katrina documentaries I've seen there's a great line by Chris Rose about how in the Times-Picayune bullpen they were openly betting how long it would be before a hurricane-related headline didn't appear on the front page of the Picayune; the general consensus was 5 years. They're probably right.

But it took Yahoo! News only 7 days to knock Virginia Tech off.

Of course we will watch history repeat itself. It will only happen in tighter, tighter spirals the more we let human tragedy leave our consciousness as quickly as a cancelled sitcom. I don't want us to dwell, I just want us to understand-- mobilize-- and learn. Because if we're not careful than what changes do happen to higher ed, and I maintain that sweeping ones are on the way, will be made without our input.