A school bus is en route to an event when suddenly it’s hijacked! A camera inside the bus captured the whole thing while an audience of school teachers, administrators, and transportation directors watched it all unfold on a live feed.
The hijacker even tied some of the students up and told them to keep their heads down. The bus eventually ended up at Owens Center for Emergency Preparedness.That’s where first responders and SWAT teams were ready to move in.
“Every driver, administrator will take something away from this saying that this could actually happen on my bus. That’s what our focus was. This could happen on any bus”, says Jeff Culler, Rossford Schools Transportation Director
Organizers say planning for the drill began in May.
How did the kids, who didn’t know what the fuck was going on, react?
“Then he started tying everybody down and it just got really scary.”
Nah, little Jimmy, your overlords have your best interests at heart. It’s your fault that you don’t understand the threat of Terror and Terrorism and Terroristy Stuff! You should be thanking them, not mewling about how scary it was. Even when they blew the tires out. Even when they cuffed you. It’s for your own good!
Just adopt that attitude, son, and you’ll be in synch with over half the country. I don’t call it the United Sheeple of America for nothing.
UPDATE: I just heard from Glenn B. Goss, Sr., Chief of Police for the Rossford Police Department. Apparently WJRT left out a crucial bit of information. Quoting Chief Goss:
. . . everyone involved—including the students and bus driver—were all well aware of the training. School is not in session yet and the students were all voluntarily on the bus for this specific training exercise. I understand the confusion when it is reported that the students were unaware that this exercise was about to take place however, this is simply not the case. EVERYBODY involved was well aware that this was a training exercise. It would be greatly appreciated if your blog and other sources would correct this error.
The riders were aware of the drill and we have received a complaint that this scenario should not have scared the children who were “unaware” of the drill. Actually, each student on the bus volunteered and signed a waiver being well aware that this was only an exercise.
I’m grateful that Goss got in touch with me to correct the story. But I have to say, I still think it was an insane exercise. The increasing militarization of the police in this country is scary. Surely even cops can see that. Over 100 SWAT raids every day?? If this were happening in any other country, Americans would be pointing fingers and decrying it. But because it’s happening in the Land of the Free, we’re expected to pretend it’s rational. Sorry, it’s not rational; it’s fear mongering.
I also edit the TSA News Blog, where our writers are well acquainted with the fear mongering that has become de rigueur in this country since 9/11.
What is wrong with parents who allow their children to participate in this kind of thing? I’d be curious to know how many—parents and kids—didn’t sign the waiver. Does anyone there have an ounce of anti-authoritarian spirit in his or her body?
Lisa Simeone is a writer, editor, political activist, Glamour Girl, and radio host. She publishes ABombazine, where this originally appeared.
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WTF is wrong with you people??
Posted on August 20, 2013 by Lisa Simeone
Nah, we don’t live in a police state. As I always say, it’s just the ranting of my fevered imagination.
That’s why, in a country where there are over 100 violent SWAT actions every day, this latest little simulation didn’t happen either. I’m just making it up. Check that, WJRT, the ABC news affiliate in Rossford, Ohio, is making it up. Somebody just woke up on the wrong side of the bed one morning and decided to make shit up:
How did the kids, who didn’t know what the fuck was going on, react?
Nah, little Jimmy, your overlords have your best interests at heart. It’s your fault that you don’t understand the threat of Terror and Terrorism and Terroristy Stuff! You should be thanking them, not mewling about how scary it was. Even when they blew the tires out. Even when they cuffed you. It’s for your own good!
Just adopt that attitude, son, and you’ll be in synch with over half the country. I don’t call it the United Sheeple of America for nothing.
Watch the video, and then tell me I’m out of line.
UPDATE: I just heard from Glenn B. Goss, Sr., Chief of Police for the Rossford Police Department. Apparently WJRT left out a crucial bit of information. Quoting Chief Goss:
I’m grateful that Goss got in touch with me to correct the story. But I have to say, I still think it was an insane exercise. The increasing militarization of the police in this country is scary. Surely even cops can see that. Over 100 SWAT raids every day?? If this were happening in any other country, Americans would be pointing fingers and decrying it. But because it’s happening in the Land of the Free, we’re expected to pretend it’s rational. Sorry, it’s not rational; it’s fear mongering.
I also edit the TSA News Blog, where our writers are well acquainted with the fear mongering that has become de rigueur in this country since 9/11.
What is wrong with parents who allow their children to participate in this kind of thing? I’d be curious to know how many—parents and kids—didn’t sign the waiver. Does anyone there have an ounce of anti-authoritarian spirit in his or her body?
Lisa Simeone is a writer, editor, political activist, Glamour Girl, and radio host. She publishes ABombazine, where this originally appeared.