x_storm | (no subject)

(no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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

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.

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.

My office. Right now.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hey, I still have cookies from donating, by the way. If you want' em. I can't eat them anyway.

I can't donate other, but for less savory reasons. I apparently wantonly spread disease. Cheers.

Eh. I just plain lied to them. I know I'm disease-free.

That's the way to go. I support your violation of unjust laws.

Well, it's not laws, it's just the Red Cross being sort of buttmonkeys.

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It's a bit scary, the number of reasons that knock me out. Land of the mad cow, recent piercings, recent tatts... And I can't lie to 'em, since the minute I open my mouth, my accent gives me away. Even in Germany.

Still, there's other stuff to be done other than donating blood. Maybe some sort of fund raiser night at Silver? Proceeds from the door go to the Red Cross/NGO of your choice?

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.

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.

Welcome to my life, John Henry Forge.

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

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.

The woman at the Red Cross place downtown says there's a Czech Red Cross. WTF? I mean, how can they keep them out if they already HAVE one?

Short answer: because the Czech Red Cross isn't associated with their government and therefore it's the Czechs' perogative to keep them out if they choose, despite this being a blatant violation of human rights and if the United Nations still has any sort of influence or relevance, then they'll impose sanctions on the Czech Republic.

Shorter answer: because they're retarded. Pardon my language.