The tragedy in Minneapolis.
The stages of grief…
[I have been unable to access this blog for a couple of days, and would have posted earlier concerning the bridge collapse in downtown Minneapolis - a terrible, tragedy. It goes without saying, we are all praying for the victims of this tragedy, as well as the friends and family who survive those who lost their lives.]
Shock and awe.
I believe it is safe to say, everyone in the Twin Cities is stunned and deeply upset over the incident. Last evening, I was watching the 6PM news when the report came in. I at first assumed it had been a bridge collapse over the Minnesota river, until live coverage emerged and we saw that it was a major Interstate bridge in downtown Minneapolis.
Pain and sorrow.
The live images of the collapse were horrific. Survivors were sitting on the rubble in the middle of the river; a dog was running to the edge of one collapsed section, seeking freedom, no owner in sight. Vehicles were on fire, some hanging over the jagged precipice of the mangled concrete deck. I was stunned, tears in my eyes, muttering prayers for the victims as I watched the coverage throughout the night.
Frustration with the disorganization.
My first impression was that it had to have been structural failure, for some reason, unlike 9/11, terrorism never entered my mind. It is well known the infrastructure in cities throughout the United States is ageing and in need of repair. I thought of the steam pipe explosion in Manhattan just a few weeks ago - when 100 year old pipes errupted under NYC streets like a small volcano.
Anger.
Early on in last night’s coverage, Channel 5 discovered inspection reports from the bridge dating back to 2005, indicating weakness - ’structural defficiency’ - in the steel structure of the bridge. All of this information will emerge more clearly, proving that the bridge was an accident waiting to happen. The excuse will be that the weakness was not significant enough to either reinforce or replace the bridge. This bridge is not the only one suffering from ’structural defficiency’ - either in Minnesota, or the rest of the country. So far, the powers that be do not feel the risk is great enough to take care of these of problems.
Reorganization
What was it they once said in the first Bush presidency? Oh yeah, ”It’s the economy stupid!” Americans have to wake up and stop thinking only of short term profits and spending - we have to understand that the infrastructure is ageing and will continue to collapse - and the collapse of this bridge symbolizes this fact. To all of those in Congress, the Senate, and our President: “It’s the infrastructure stupid!”
A final note…
I just heard this story on the news. A man, pinned in his car beneath the bridge deck, told the rescuers who were unable to free him, “Tell my family I said ’good bye’.” He died shortly thereafter.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:29 am
For those who died:
In order to appease Thy Divine Justice, we offer Thee, O Lord, the merits acquired by Mary, Thy Mother and ours, when she stood at the foot of the Cross. If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?
Have mercy on them Jesus…
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:13 pm
How terrible. God have mercy.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Terry I was on the phone last night w/friends from out of state inquiring about a news report on terrorism when my son came to tell me about the horrible event.
Today relatives from Boston called to make sure we were okay, but also to tell us that their state government just released a report that stated they have 500 bridges in need of serious repair! They also reported that a couple of bridges have not been looked at for over 30-years.
http://www.wbur.org/news/local/infrastructure/default2.asp
We do have a major issue w/ageing infrastructure around the country. I could not help but be a bit cynical about how many “dog parks” do we need in this state, or other pet special interest projects when there are some very central issues that need serious attention.
I do believe within this sad tragedy, like so many others before, there will emerge many heroic stories.
May God have mercy on those who died and provide strength to those who loved them, and quick recovery for those injuried.
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Terry, I hadn’t heard that last bit, but I’m not surprised.
I, too, assumed initially it was the Minnesota river. And I was shocked when I realized what it really was.
The last time I crossed that bridge was last week when I had to go to Bloomington and back, maybe last Wednesday. As I headed southbound, about in the center of the bridge, I looked West towards the Stone Bridge, and I felt an odd twinge. It wasn’t the bridge..it was something interior, something almost…nostalgic. Almost like I would never see that view in the same way again. I’ll never be able to explain the moment and I shook it off, but I felt it again when I re-crossed heading northbound. I remember a sense of how far above the water we are. (I often sense this in a much larger way over the Hwy 52 bridge in St. Paul..that bridge literally scares me and I have no logical basis for the feeling).
Anyway, my Manager was nearly on that bridge. Just a few weeks ago, he nearly lost his life due to an illness, partially due to an auto-immune disease. Last night he was to the 4th St. exit, and was fed up with traffic at about 5:45. He was on the phone with his wife, complaining about the traffic, and told her he was going to find another route. She chided him about his “expeditions” and told him to wait it out; the traffic would clear.
Boy, did it. My Manager exited, and by the time he got down to the 36th St. S. exit onto 35W, the bridge had collapsed.
He is certain that had he remained on 35W, he would have been on the bridge, given the timing of the traffic and the time it was taking to go X distance.
He is a man given his life back twice in the last month. As an aside, please pray for him.
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:34 pm
OK, after all that, I forgot to make a comment….about dog parks. Being that dogs are near and dear to my heart.
Many dog parks are not funded by government money and taxes…they are often funded by private donations and kept up by private organizations. The biggest donation often comes from the city in the form of land granted for use as a dog park.
That doesn’t take away from bridge work. There ARE special-interest lobbies that DO, however, and I agree…if bridge money is going to fluff stuff, it does need to stop because certain things are far more important.
We live in a country of no impulse control. We are so consumer driver that it’s all about seeing and wanting it and damning the consequences.
Alexis de Tocqueville noted this trait about the US long ago, and basically stated that it’s the C students that make it to government office; they are the ones who can talk a good game, go with the short-term answers that work to get them elected and keep them in office and keep the ignorant masses lulled with promises of fluff with a few hard-edged lobbies to keep them appearing serious. Meanwhile bridges fall and cities burn and then they smile and console and make excuses for why things weren’t addressed when they should have been.
This is a non-partisan comment; it applies, as far as I’m concerned, to all politicians.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:44 am
Julie - Thanks for your reflections. Your female firefighters are cetainly proving themselves in the rescue efforts - did you see that on the news? I’m very proud of them.
Today I have fears for all of the resue workers as they are faced with great danger, so my prayers are with them.
August 3rd, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Julie — thank you for you information, since I am not a MNstan and new to the area, I am still learning how things are funded.
Yet I gather from your statement some dog parks are state or city funded and possibly managed, too.
Please know I have a great fondness for the four legged creatures. I have had 4 todate w/my newest and biggest ever owned one sleeping now near my feet. He was purchased from a “no kill” pound in MN. Nor am I opposed to “dog parks” … I just wonder how many we really need given other serious needs around town.
In our area there are a number of them, as well as parks and walking trails. They are very lovely, but I still need to ask the question about our priorities. I have lived in many states in the Midwest & East coast w/my various dogs, and MN is unique in this arena.
Thank you for sharing the quote … it was very appropriate … especially regarding “short term” answers.
Also from Terry’s statement you are a fire- fighter? God’s blessing to you and all the rescue crews, medical workers and the many volunteers and our thank you!
August 3rd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
pml ~ I’m an “ex”. I actually got almost to the end of my Fire training and tore cartiledge in my wrist, ending my career before it really began. But I was at the training tower on 9-11 and that day they told us that, for all practical purposes, we were “firefighters” and would be put to work. I suspect that had something like this happened while we were in training, we would likewise have been sent to assist.
I do think there are some dog parks that are city funded. If you go to the website:
http://www.dogpark.com I think they used to have a good cross section and I think they did give info on who supported / ran those parks, etc. Because the parks don’t need to be built, they really don’t do much; they just have to get approval from the city or county in question for the land to be set aside for the purpose. There may be costs if they fence in the area.
There is a dog park over in the 3 Rivers Park District, maybe Osseo? Where there is actually a cost to use the park or a permit can be purchased, and I believe that goes to support the park .
But I agree with you that there are a lot of missed priorities in this state because so many special interest groups are competing for tax dollars for their pet projects. Some are necessary; some are not.
Did you get yoru dog from Animal Ark? I once adopted a dog from there.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Julie — I believe it might have been Animal Ark … somewhere near Hastings .. I think. It just was a long drive and the poor pup was very upset with the car drive … it was a long trip home w/him!
He is a beauty and has great temperament.