by Jim Chappel Division F Director
I arrived in New Orleans 15 hours after the horrific terrorist attack which killed 15 innocent people enjoying NYE on Bourbon Street, two blocks from the hotel where I was staying. An additional 50 innocent citizens were wounded. During my visit I saw a memorial to the victims develop and grow including photos and stories about each of the victims, gut retching to read.
While in New Orleans I spent the better part of two days touring the WW2 Museum, an AMAZING testament to the bravery of so many countries and soldiers to stop terrorist regimes who were very close to taking over the world. I highly recommend this museum if you are ever close by. In the dark ages when I was in high school, we still studied world history, and I knew factually much of what was presented. But the museum presents it in a comprehensive multimedia manner that is gripping and educational.
We hear people throw around the possibility that we are on the verge of WW3. We all know the bad actors and the hot spots around the world. They are scary and acute. And the weapons are so much more devastating. Based on our history I have faith that the United States is capable of managing our involvement and protecting our homeland. I pray we don’t have to. But the type of terrorism we face from lone wolf actors such as we saw in New Orleans, the Las Vegas bombing, (name a few others …) those scare me almost as much. How do we fight that terrorist, prevent that kind of occurrence? I wish I had an answer.
If I could make New Years resolutions for the world: respect our differences; take care of those who can’t take care of themselves; take care of the planet and preserve it for our heirs; continue to explore ways to improve our world with new technologies and health care advances that create a better and healthier population; create systems that provide opportunities for all; and maybe for many of us – believe in a God or higher power who is in ultimate control of this crazy experience we call life.
I wish you all a happy and healthy 2025 and I hope we can continue to work together to grow and improve Toastmasters D25 for our benefit and the benefit of our future members.
