“It has been our own, in a sense, 11th of September; it’s a tragedy.”
More than 180 are feared dead in the Bali nightclub bombing. Is this getting any play on foreign news outlets? Here in Australia, it’s being treated like it was domestic terrorism. Bali’s pretty close and to Australians, it’s like the Ibiza of this hemisphere. Everyone goes there for their big vacations. I read an estimate that 75% of the wounded are probably Australian. Several community football teams were there celebrating the end of their season. This will probably end up being the greatest loss of Australian life during peacetime.
I thought we were away from it all here. I thought by avoiding Europe and the U.S. we’d be free from the bombings and the anthrax and the snipers and the threats. Nope. Sometimes it just sucks to be a human.
Kristen
October 14, 2002 — 5:29 pm
this is a pretty big deal in singapore. i wonder if it will be in the US though, what with the washington sniper still on the loose, confirmation that the tanker explosion off Yemen was intentional and a bomb blast in a mall in Finaland. what is the world coming to? :o(
Claire
October 14, 2002 — 8:53 pm
The Bali footage is just sickening to the stomach, isn’t it? And as much as we try to stop it happening, we can’t possibly patrol every square inch of the earth. We’re way more vulnerable than I thought 🙁
Kris
October 14, 2002 — 9:16 pm
My family have been trying to convince me to move back to the U.S. and I’m like, Why? Does it really matter? This shit happens everywhere. The only thing that changes is your *perception* of safety. Even with this tragedy, I still feel safer here than I did in London (or I would living anywhere near a large U.S. city). I guess that’s all the comfort you get these days. 🙁
Kris
October 14, 2002 — 9:17 pm
Three frowns in a row! I think that’s a record.
Moire
October 15, 2002 — 12:54 am
No worries… The Bali bombing has been getting equal air time on CNN as the Washington sniper story. I haven’t seen an actual report about the mall bombing in Finland, or the Yemeni tanker explosion, though… Only a little blurb on the news ticker at the bottom of the screen.
It seems like this was the big weekend for terrorist attacks… I wonder if it was orchestrated to be as such?
There’s so much stuff going on in the world right now, including the whole sniper purusing my area for targets. I was frightened for about three seconds until I realized that there’s nothing you can do. I can’t stop living my life… I can’t stop going to the gas station to put gas in my car… I can’t not go to work just because I’m a few blocks from the White House, and a mile or so from the Capitol building. I’ve gotta keep on keepin’ on. 🙂
brigita
October 15, 2002 — 2:08 am
mom drove down to visit me this weekend and said that the line at the gas station at the last rest stop in NJ was backed up for 20 min. becuse people didn’t want to have to get out of their cars to gas up in MD. yeesh.
Moire
October 15, 2002 — 8:38 am
Buh. Whatever.
Tricia
October 15, 2002 — 12:05 pm
From the Western States, the news of Bali and the D.C. suburban sniper seem about equally covered. My mom (who works in NOVA) said the kids in school are all getting pretty stir-crazy because there’s no outside recess or sports or anything ’cause of the sniper.
I think you’re right, Kris; you’re safer in Oz than you’d be anywhere else right now.
Kris
October 15, 2002 — 1:45 pm
Man, the news footage here has been… tough to watch. The first planeloads of survivors have arrived back in Oz, and of course the media had to be there to shove microphones in their faces. I watched one huge guy, like a 300 pound bear, break down in tears because he was alive and several of his football teammates weren’t. They were from Coogee Beach, which isn’t far from where I live. I’m just going to leave the TV off for a while.
Steve
October 15, 2002 — 7:53 pm
All the Aussies here in the hills are pretty gutted. A bit wierd not being at home when it happened. Press here don’t really give a toss – Nepalis have too many worries of there own with the Maoists shooting people willy nilly for no apparent reason.
Didn’t even here about the sniper til just now. Bit out of touch I guess…
Kris
October 16, 2002 — 12:10 am
Steve! We were wondering if you’d heard (or if you were too busy being dragged back down to base camp frozen on the back of a Sherpa). Where are you? Have you done your “ascent” yet? Kenya’s back, you know. You should come home where it’s safe(r).
And hey – on an unrelated and non-tragic note – Rugby World Cup tickets go on sale this weekend. Although I’ve already read that terrorism so close to home might end up negatively affecting the tournament. I hope not. I’m looking forward to it!
Steve
October 16, 2002 — 4:39 pm
Unfortunately, my trusty Swedish trekking companion went down with altitude sickness 3 days before we reached the target. To be so close after about 12 days of hardship and have to turn around was a bit shitty. I don’t even like exercise!
Anyway, I saw the big one, so I’m not too disappointed. I’m back in Aus probably about Nov. 10.
Oh and I can’t wait for the rugby!!
Kris
October 16, 2002 — 5:14 pm
Damn, I hope you took pictures!