(no subject)

I found out today that three dozen disabled people in the World Trade Center when it was attacked were taken to areas on the lower floors and told, in accordance with procedure, to wait until the stairs were clear before being evacuated. The stairs were never clear, and they died, along with many other people.

As much as I want to, I can't blame anyone for following this procedure. No one was prepared for that day, and all the preparation in the world can't stop some things. Putting myself in the shoes of a firefighter/rescue worker or an evacuee, I would have done exactly as they did. What else can you do? But there is something horrifying to me about the image. I can imagine myself in that situation quite easily.

Those of you who are "able-bodied" should take a moment to be glad of it.