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Tuesday, March 04, 2003 Page: 7A
OPINION
THE STORIES SOUND SO CONTEMPORARY: FAMILIES CONTEND WHILE MOM IS AWAY IN THE
SERVICE OF HER COUNTRY. AT THE SAME TIME, SCHOOLS JOIN THE HOME FRONT IN
PREPARING FOR DISASTER. WELCOME TO A HOME FRONT UNDER SIEGE, WHERE FATHERS DO
THE LAUNDRY, COOK DINNER AND CARE FOR THE KIDS WHILE SGT. MOM IS OVERSEAS OR
GETTING READY TO GO. AT THE SAME TIME, HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TALLY
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, PREPARE SHORTHAND CODE NAMES FOR DISASTERS AND PREPARE FOR
MOST ANYTHING THAT MIGHT OCCUR. IT’S ENOUGH TO RATTLE A HOLD ON REALITY. BUT
IF THE PEOPLE FACING THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY NEED A GUIDE, JUST CONSIDER THE
PAST. FIFTY YEARS AGO, DURING WORLD WAR II, WOMEN SERVED THE COUNTRY AS
NURSES, FERRYING WARPLANES AND IN VARIOUS SUPPORTING ROLES FOR THE ARMED
FORCES. IN FACTORIES THE MACHINES WERE MANNED THAT’S A PUN BY ABLE WOMEN,
HELPING THIS COUNTRY TO AN UNPRECEDENTED MANUFACTURING CAPACITY. BEFORE THAT,
THE ANTHRACITE COAL REGION WAS FAMOUS FOR MATRIARCHS RUNNING ALMOST EVERY
ASPECT OF THE HOUSEHOLD, INCLUDING FINANCES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE OCCASIONAL
LABOR DISPUTE, WHILE FATHERS, HUSBANDS AND SONS STRUGGLED TO EARN A LIVING
FROM THE DEEP MINES, SUNRISE TO SET. AND THROUGH IT ALL, THE FAMILY SURVIVED.
WHILE THE ATTACKS OF SEPT. 11 SEARED LIKE LIGHTNING, TERRORISM HAS BEEN A
THREAT GLOBALLY FOR AGES. ATTACKS ON A SMALLER SCALE HAVE OCCURRED IN THIS
COUNTRY IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN 1993. FAMILIES AND
SCHOOLS PREPARED FOR DISASTER WITH DUCK-AND-COVER DRILLS AND BOMB SHELTERS
DURING THE COLD WAR WHILE MOST CITIZENS LOOKED TO THE SKY AND FOR SUSPICIOUS
BEHAVIOR TO HELP CIVIL DEFENSE ON THE HOME FRONT DURING WORLD WAR II. THROUGH
THE SEPARATED FAMILIES, THE BLACKOUTS AND RATIONING, THE FAMILY SURVIVED. THE
COMMUNITY THRIVED. AND SO IT SHOULD BE AGAIN. THE WORLD SEEMS SMALLER AND THE
THREATS SEEM BIGGER AND MORE INVASIVE. MORE WOMEN OBLIGE THEIR COUNTRY IN
DIRECT SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES. WHAT THE REST OF US CAN DO, NOW AS THEN,
IS HELP AS FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY. LEND A HAND TO THE FAMILY
SUDDENLY WITH ONE PARENT. MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO SCHOOL AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS
ABOUT WHAT MATERIALS OR COURSE OF ACTION MIGHT BE NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY. OR
WHAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. EVERYTHING MUST BE IN BALANCE. THE DISSENTING
OPINION, THE VOICE FOR COMMON SENSE AND PRUDENCE, IS NO LESS LOYAL TO THE
CAUSE. AND TALK TO YOUR KIDS. BE CALM AND REASONABLE AND REALISTIC. REASSURE
THEM THAT BEING PREPARED ISN’T A DISASTER. THE DISASTER IS DOING NOTHING IN
THE FACE OF REALITY.