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opinion:
our view
Anthrax: Coming
in a letter to you
Anthrax, the next big threat, is now here -- and in a big
way.
First, an employee
of a tabloid newspaper in Florida was inflicted with the anthrax
virus and later died, followed by reports of several of his
co-workers testing positive for the deadly disease.
We as a nation
held our breath, hoping the Florida case was an isolated incident.
Then other cases
involving anthrax exposure surfaced, including those involving
the assistant to NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and the 7-month-old
son of an ABC News producer.
We as a nation
started to get nervous, realizing anthrax was a serious threat.
And now comes the
news of a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's
office that tested positive for a highly potent form of anthrax
and has resulted in 29 of his staffers being exposed to anthrax.
We as a nation
now know this is a real danger, and not only for new anchors
or U.S. senators, but for anyone who handles mail.
Now if the immense
fear that grips America weren't enough, another situation
has emerged on par with actual terrorism -- the copycats.
Since copycatting
is now as American as apple pie (a tainted piece, of course),
every pseudo terrorist spurned on by possible media coverage
is now sending letters filled with sugar, flour, talcum powder
-- hey, whatever works to get those precious 15 minutes.
And since this
is an obviously huge story, media outlets across the nation
and the world have taken hold of these stories and run for
daylight, allowing the wannabes to get their fix.
The Florida case,
and the ones at NBC, ABC and Daschle's office were probably
pulled off by actual members of organized terrorist groups
or seriously crazed loners with lab access bent on crippling
America.
But we think most
of the letters are sent by crazed loners who aren't connected
with terrorist networks or laboratories, just connected with
their own severe mental problems.
A prime example
involves letters filled with a "white, powdery substance"
sent to more than 100 abortion clinics and Planned Parenthood
facilities nationwide on Monday, according to The Associated
Press.
Do anti-abortionists
feel this is the right time to scare doctors, nurses and patients
who are employed or being treated at these clinics? At this
time, a self-absorbed cause -- abortion rights or any other
-- shouldn't take precedent over the healing of America.
So get used to
the phrase "white, powdery substance" being a staple
in your morning newspaper or the nightly news. And also
get used to the pathetic individuals sending said "white,
powdery substances."
As long as there
is media coverage, there will be "white, powdery substance"
stories to fill your day and people that are no more than
glorified the terrorists behind it.
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