The Larry Kane Report

Two stories are really disturbing me. Obviously they are not disturbing public officials.

The fact that the Philadelphia police radio system suffered serious breakdowns for two days is distressing, since it has happened before. Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, a capable top cop, dismisses it by saying that “things break down.” City Managing Director Pedro Ramos says the public shouldn’t be concerned, even though it has happened again and again.
The problem is a phone company land line. This police radio system has been plagued for years! I find that the official response is much too casual, and doesn’t reflect the urgency of the situation.

To compensate for the situation police officers are now riding in pairs. That’s a good safety move but remember this:

IN A CITY WITH 271 MURDERS, THE POLICE ARE STRETCHED THIN. THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE BREAKDOWNS IN THE POLICE RADIO SYSTEM.

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THINGS DO BREAK DOWN BUT TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS IN A CRIME-CHALLENGED COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PEACE. EVEN ONE HOUR OF RADIO SILENCE IS DANGEROUS.

TO: COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, DIRECTOR RAMOS, AND THE MAYOR, A SIMPLE MESSAGE: PROTECT THE POLICE. PROTECT THE PEOPLE. FIX THE SYSTEM OR FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN.

The second story is just aggravating. The Pa. House Health and Human services committee is once again holding hearings on a statewide ban on smoking in public places. Pennsylvania is so far behind other big states on a smoking ban that it is ahameful. The committee failed earlier in the year to get a bill to the legislature.

If you are okay with second hand smoke filling your lungs, please ignore this story. Otherwise write to the state legislators and tell them to clean up Pennsylvania.

Smoking in restaurants and public rooms is a danger to your health. With New York, New Jersey and Delaware all enforcing public smoking bans, Pennsylvania lawmakers seem like they are way behind the times.

POLICE WITHOUT RADIOS. GHASTLY SMOKE FILLING PUBLIC ROOMS.

How about a little attention to Homeland Security.

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Maybe it is the election coming up. Or perhaps it’s the war in Iraq. It could be that ordinary people are fed up with government. It could be the fanatic bloggers who use the power of the internet to bring out the worst in people. Maybe it’s just me. After all, the letters on this site have been courteous, honest and thoughtful.

The mood of Americans is grisly and nasty at times. This period of history reminds me of 1968 when people were ready to tear each other apart over issues of race, war, and let us not forget the mantra of the day – law and order. Well folks: law and order is back as an issue and so is an unpopular war and that horrible habit of the extreme right and extreme left – labelling people because of one view or another.

The emails I receive reference my tv show are loaded with angry words and sometimes accompanied by profanity and slurs. In the places I go to, people seem on a nervous edge. They are ready to do battle on a seconds notice.

BUT HERE IS THE WORST PART, THE ABSOLUTE WORST:

Some people are of the opinion that if you simply don’t agree with them you are either a socialist, fascist, outcast or a weirdo. In other words, “if you don’t agree with me, go fly a kite or…. (censored).

Why do we have this “going to extremes” attitude? Why not be tolerant or friendly or just plain civil.

I’ll tell you why. Our leaders are not civil, although interestingly, George W. Bush treats his oppoents with respect. His subordinates do not. The leaders of our parties are leveling vicious verbal missiles at each other. Few people smile in public these says. The head of the Democratic Party, that Howard Dean guy, looks like a heat seeking missile ready to explode. Whenever I see Dick Cheney I hope somebody pinches him in the rear to make him laugh.

Poor Joe Lieberman tried to smile his way through his Democratic and the voters told him to get lost. Of course he’ll get the last laugh when he wins as an independent in November. Hey Joe, the Democrats of Yankee New England told him, “You’re only as good as your last show!”

So what’s the answer? When will be stop demonizing people who have a different point of view?

Ask Ed Rendell. He travels with ease and optimism as he campaigns.

But then again, he is ahead by 20 points.

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During a guest stint on the Lynn Doyle “It’s Your Call” 9/11 special  on CN 8, a short debate developed over the use of the shocking and mind-chilling video of the planes crashing into the twin towers in New York. The arguments were outlined and the audience voted as the program continued – a simple yes or no on whether the video should be played.

This reporter said “yes”, a position that I expected to be unpopular.

I don’t the like the video. Who could? But in an open society like ours we cannat afford to put an antiseptic band aid to cover bad news. The video of what happened that day should be seen forever, lest the people of America forget whatg happened, who perpetrated it and the absolute horror of terror. Terror is war. But unlike the boundary-laden battlefields of conventional warfare, terror has one motivation, not to sieze a piece of ground, but to commit violence for no strategic reason. The real purpose of terrorist violence is to control the minds of people through murder. The murder causes increased fear. The fear intimidates. The intimidation leads to a breakdown in spirit and moral values. The terrorist wins the battle by causing enough damage and fear that people surrender their convictions.

That is what terrorism is all about.

Deciding that painul videos should not be shown as a matter of “taste” is an enviable decision. The purpose is to ease the pain. But if the pain is killed by censoring the real life momets of terror the consequences could be disastrous. Imagine a society so numbed by the pain of loss that people are willing to accept a sanitized view of real tragedy.

The other reason to show this video is to allow future generations to learn not only to remember but never to forget.

We talk often about the absolute need to remember the Holocaust. And so it is that memory is the last vestige of truth telling as time moves on.

The video allows us to remember that we have an enemy who cares not about life as we know it, but cares more about killing and maiming until it can accomplish its goals of anarchy and disorders.

All these reasons add up to a strong argument to show this video at anytime to bring the enormity of this story back ti life.

By the way, the programs poll had 79 percent voting FOR showing the video. 21 percent said “no.”

The truth is painful. But the truth gives us the path to a future.

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This is a solemn day. All of us will remember where we were, what we were doing, and we will think about the victims and their families. First and foremost, this day should should be dedicated to the people who are not here anymore, the brave rescuers who fought so hard, and the men and women of the armed forces who have served in the name of the war on terrror.

But there is also room on this day for a look at reality. Without honesty and a look at the future we cannot truly honor those who died on that fateful day, nor can we dedicate ourselves to protecting our children and theirs.

Here are two realities. The war in Afghanistan was fought to seek and destroy Al Qaeda and the Taliban. As we mark the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban has renewed its bloody war on the people of that country with terror squads now acting openly in the capitol of Kabul. How did this happen and who is helping these terrorists get back on track? This is an urgent national necessity. Getting Bin Laden is one thing.  Stopping his and the Taliban’s ability to do damage was our first priority. We need to get back on track.

A second reality. Former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean and his co-chair, former Congressman Lee Hamilton are deeply concerned that the government and the Congress have not implemented all of the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. That inaction is a disgrace that you can hold both Democrats and Republicans responsible for. Kean is one of the most honest and patriotic people I have ever covered in public life. When he speaks, the nation should listen. Failure to listen to the intelligence community in the late 90′s and in the year 2000 i what got us into this mess in the first place.

9/11. The date will be forever etched in our collective memories. We will never forget what happened. We memorialize the people whose lives were cut short. We honor those who fought and died. We have a responsibility to them to take care of business.

Tom Kean thinks that maybe, tragically, it would take another attack to wake up the politicians.

We should take his warning seriously. “Too late” could be just around the corner.

What do you think? Are we dropping the ball again?

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Ryan Howard, the Phillies first baseman, has hit 56 home runs. While sports is not as important as the serious issues facing us today, his extraordinary performance is especially good for our tri-state area, and especially at this time.

First and foremost, Howard seems to be a fantastic role model – a humble yet serious young man who is reluctant to take bows and seems to be an ultimate team player. The fact that he is four home runs shy of Babe Ruth doesn’t seem to faze him.

Chase Utley, the second baseman, has provided Phillies fans with such high drama – an incredible hitting streak, powerful home runs and like Howard, a love for the game, an ego that is not embarrasing, and a sense of community involvement,

Why do I think these men are important to the region and the country?
The City of Philadelphia, despite what I consider to be the finest Police Department in America, has a real crime problem, a high murder rate. Other communities face critical challenges including overwhelming suburban sprawl. Our news is filled with stories of petulant celebrities who care little for the plight of human beings. Our big stories are of huge ego trips , excesses of drug use, and some sordid people always looking for their 15 minutes of fame.

The nation is seriously divided politically with politicians on both sides playing on the fears and anxieties of the American people. Few of our leaders have the guts to express their genuine convicitons, fearing always the next public opinion poll.

Some public opinion polls show that Americans are more pessimistic as ever about the future.

So, again, why make such a big deal about Ryan Howard and Chase Utley?

Because it is clear that in their athletic prowess and personal behavior, the two players and some of their fellow players, display the best there is in public life – achievment with respect, performance without fanfare, and most of all, the admired American spirit of trying to do your best.

But most of all, these Phillies help us take a necessary “time-out” from all that ails us, to celebrate their feats and endlessly talk about them.

I’ve always felt that sports is a fantastic diversion. Although the Phillies reacted badly at first to the accusations of abuse against Brett Myers, the team has provided us with thrills and spills since then that have lit up this town.

And Howard and Utley have led the way with feats of daring, and the kind of behavior that makes champions out of superstars, setting the example we all want to see for our future generations.

The Phillies may or may not make the playoffs, but some of them are already big winners.

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