Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Psychology




The last class not so much fun.

Last Tuesday we had our last class before the drill/test. It was a sobering class. In the other weeks Danni and I came home feeling jazzed and that we learned something new that if needed we could help someone or even just ourselves and our family. Tuesday’s class was different we focused on the psychology of disaster and the reactions that range from just taking it in stride to just completely coming unhinged. There is no “normal” response. We covered everything from how to deal with a dead body to how to protect ourselves from any blood-borne germs (HIV or hepatitis) or even air-borne germs (TB) and even food transferred illnesses like E. Coli.

We also touched on what is terrorism. I say touched because it was a lively discussion one that other people’s political views came into play. After 9-11 the U.S. Government defined terrorism as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” Okalahoma bombing terrorism... Columbine not terrorism… other events were also discussed trying to make us see what is and what is not terrorism. Other things may feel like terrorism or them may cause you to feel terrorized but it doesn’t fall under the definition of terrorism as set by the U.S. Government. It was an emotional conversion one that made you think, debate with yourself. Danni and I talked about it later in the evening and really it is hard to separate the feeling of being terrorized with true terrorism.
They did keep blaming the Irish for the beginnings of terrorism, as we know it today. They were sighting things that happened, about Michael Collins time frame and the beginnings of the IRA, and I really wanted to argue that point but that wasn’t the point of the class. :)




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