(no subject)

[x_storm]

This is about the situation in Smichov. This is about the fact that people are dying in a city across the sea, and the fact that we are not there, trying to save them.

There is nothing harder than seeing the news coverage of a broken body being pulled from a pile of rubble and thinking to yourself 'I could have stopped that'. There is nothing more difficult than knowing that before the day is through, there will be many more bodies and many more piles of rubble and still you will have done nothing to help them there. But there is a limit to what we can do, and there is a reason for holding back. And though you may be hard-pressed to find that reason or understand it when you do, know that it exists. We are only human. We may have extraordinary abilities and the extraordinary responsibilities that come with them, but when it is all said and done, we are human. And we are governed by human laws and human rules, and the minute we pretend that we are not, we become something dangerous and foolhardy. If we ignored the mandates of our government, of the Czech government, and go to Smichov, there is absolutely nothing guaranteeing that we would be able to get close enough to help, let alone stop what is happening. Sacrificing ourselves may be the 'right' thing to do, but that does not mean we should do it.

It is an outrage, what is happening in Smichov right now. It is a base, deplorable, horrifying event. I cannot help but feel sick when I watch the coverage, and it is difficult to imagine a world in which this is happening, right now. But just as someone with means choosing to live on the street will not help a homeless person feel warmer at night, giving the Czech government a real mutant threat will not make their actions cease. And so we are left to rant and rail against each other instead of focusing on the things we can do. Terry is going to the Red Cross. I charge anyone who is outraged at our lack of action to consider their own actions, and then hers. There are things we can do, and we should be doing them. Sometimes the day cannot be saved by heroes in black leather. Sometimes the lesson is far, far harder to learn.

People are dying across the sea, and we cannot be there to save them. Let us instead make sure their deaths are not in vain. Let us work together and do what we can. We cannot give more or less than our all.

Comments

[x-ccelerate.livejournal.com]

You said that much better than I was able to.

[x-emplate.livejournal.com]

But just as someone with means choosing to live on the street will not help a homeless person feel warmer at night, giving the Czech government a real mutant threat will not make their actions cease.


I don't contest that there are some circumstances in which it is unsuitable to resort to public action, but I find your comparison entirely invalid.

The issue isn't at all that the person with means should be making grand and foolish gestures to live on the street. The point is that people with means should be finding a way to use theirs to help the ones who are.

The school is one of the preeminent centres for mutant-rights, and we have in this place people who can bend matter with their naked minds -- and you're telling me the grand limit of what the school could envision here was to don the leather and play the superhero?

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Marius, direct action is just what's been conclusively ruled out. We have to look at other avenues now. The Professor has a lot of contacts in the political arena, and some of those contacts are in a position where they're even more likely to be able to help.

[x-emplate.livejournal.com]

Because extensive contacts for future purusal mean so much to those who died for want of medical supplies last week. Right.

I'm sure that will come as a great comfort for those in the ghettos, to know what we would have done if only it had been feasible at the time.

No powers is the least of the problems I have here. This lot have money. With enough money, anything can get done. The professor is quite wealthy. As are Mr. Dayspring, as is Dr. MacTaggart. You have plenty of resources at hand. What were you doing with it?

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Marius, debating this on the journals isn't going to do anyone much good. Mostly because I'm not well enough informed on what has been done, or is being done, on that level.

I'd suggest speaking to the Professor, or Nathan when he returns.

[x-emplate.livejournal.com]

On the contrary, I can't think of a better place to address these concerns, particularly since I was not the one to voice their initial concerns. Are only those aspects of a problem the staff deem productive to be addressed in a public forum? I want to know how these situations should be dealt with. I see evidence some of my classmates are in agreement. This is a school. Teach us.

But very well. Your ignorance is noted. I shall await the return of one who actually knows that of which he speaks.

[x-rictor.livejournal.com]

Please make something clear to me, as I am feeling slow tonight.

Would there have been this much hesitation if I had been taken to Prague, instead of San Diego? For fear of an international incident?

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Julio, let's drop the euphemisms. No one is concerned about an 'international incident'. Reputation, politics, none of that is the issue here.

What is the issue is that anyone wanting to get into Smichov would have had to fight their way in and continue fighting, instead of helping people.

[x-rictor.livejournal.com]

There are other ways instead of fighting! Why can no one see this? You do not have to go in there and start blowing things up in the name of justice. You have people here who can do the most extraordinary things, why cannot these extraordinary things be used for helping these people? Food, medical help, evacuations, for god's sake, something other than sitting around and commenting how terrible it is!

[x-juggernaut.livejournal.com]

Because the moment we go in, instead of being able to help, we get a bunch of dumbass Czech soldiers shooting at us. And you think if their government was allowing evacuations, maybe they wouldn't have put up a big giant wall.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

And how do you suggest we get into the Czech Republic? The Red Cross is just now finally making some progress tonight and will be starting work in Prague within the next few hours. This is the Red Cross, Julio, the ones that go everywhere, and they are only just now being allowed in.

[x-rictor.livejournal.com]

And just how many teleporters have I met since I have been here?

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

I've tried to explain. If you'd like to talk about this more, come and see me; I don't think the arguing on the journals is doing anyone any good.

[x-rictor.livejournal.com]

No, you are not seeing what I am saying. If you are not going to help, then what is the fucking point of you people?

It does not matter if I say it here or in private, my point is still the same.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

My office. Right now.

[x-sanfuaiyaa.livejournal.com]

Long range teleporters? Probably just two. I don't know about Illyana, but Clarice is unable to transport more than a couple of people across the Atlantic Ocean without endangering her own health. Try again.

[x-wildchild.livejournal.com]

Stealth airplane, and half a dozen folks who can fly and we can't even do food drops?

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

If you want to help, why not go volunteer with the Red Cross and help them arrange things? Or organize a food drive to donate to them to distribute?

If anyone needs a ride, I'll be going first thing in the morning.

[x-wildchild.livejournal.com]

I dunno, because I just got home from four hours of doing that already and they have a limit on time when you're not 18 yet?

Just because I didn't respond to Terry's thing doesn't mean I didn't do anything.

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

I also can't realize that you went if I wasn't there and you didn't respond to Terry's post. I didn't mean to make it sound like you weren't doing anything, I was just trying to come up with something since you seemed frustrated about what was being done.

[x-roulette.livejournal.com]

Yes, loved the part where I waited for two hours to be told I couldn't donate blood because I was anemic.

As much as I feel like we're fighting the good fight on the homefront, there's no garauntee this'll get there in time to really help many people.

It's like being stuck in a hotel all over again.

[x-forge.livejournal.com]

I think what Kyle is saying, and Julio and Marius in their own less tactful way, is that we have the capability to help more directly and more swiftly than the Red Cross. There's no guarantee that the Czechs will let THEM into Smichov, either.

I understand - grudgingly - that we cannot just thumb our nose at a sovereign country and breach international borders in the name of humanitarian relief. If folks head there directly - they can't do it covertly. If they do it covertly, it'll take so much time the Red Cross will already be there with any aid we could provide, and in larger and more professional quantities.

We could do the right thing and say screw the Czech politicians who caused this problem, go in there, get people out of the war zone, and be gone. That would do good in the immediate term, but the repercussions would prevent any further good.

This sucks. Where is it written that we have to stand by and watch people die on TV, just so the possibility for future good is not taken away? I know there's no real option, no matter how much money gets thrown at it or how much we want to change things from here.

World needs to change.

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

Trust me, I don't like it any more than you guys. Just ask the punching bag in the gym. But as you said, it's always weighing what the results of action would be, both in the short and longterm, as well as judging what we truly can do versus what we'd like to do.

As you said, I heartily agree, this sucks.

[x-ccelerate.livejournal.com]

Welcome to my life, John Henry Forge.

It's far worse without the distance the television provides.

[x-sanfuaiyaa.livejournal.com]

I think the frustration stems a lot from the fact that we're mutants with the resources of a small country. I still don't understand myself why we're not being more aggressive.

Not to mention, Red Cross? Bunch of idiots playing nurse.