In the past few days it's been hard to miss the news of the bomb scare/hoax/ad campaign in Boston. Apparently as part of the Adult Swim/Cartoon Network, Turner Broadcasting launched an ad campaign for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force featuring flashing LED lights that were attached to bridges, buildings, hospitals, and even Fenway Park. Now I can't say that seeing something like that wouldn't have made me uneasy or apprehensive. But until proven to be a threat I don't think I would have reacted quite the way the city of Boston did during this "event".
It's hard to believe that less than 6 years ago, we all probably would have seen the flashing LED signs, which are powered by 4 D batteries, laughed or been perplexed and moved on with our lives. That, of course, was before 9/11 and the attack on our country. Now everyday when we see the slightest thing out of the ordinary we tend to panic and worry about what's coming next. Not that I'm saying it's unwarranted. Don't get me wrong. I know Boston was where most of the hijackers boarded planes on 9/11 that shook our country. But now whether they (the Boston police department) felt the caution, closures, and panic were warranted or not they have become the laughing stock because of that same caution and the closures and the panic. 9 other cities were also targeted in the ad campaign and there was no reaction from them. That's not to say that there wouldn't have been though. I believe that Boston just beat them to it.
Sadly, in our society, money and humiliation reigns supreme.Today there at least half a dozen of the devices on Ebay going for as much as $800!! Who would buy them and why!? Not to mention a new string of t-shirts I noticed on the site featuring the little LED character with slogans like "We Will Not Forget 1-31-07" and "Bomb Gottcha". Disgusting. I can only imagine what will happen from here.
Do you think Boston overreacted? Or were they justified?
0 comments:
Post a Comment