This too is Yonkers– by Eric Schoen
I have been thinking a lot after the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. So many lives lost for no reason. And it seems like every week we have a shooting at a religious institution, club, office building, concert I could go on and on.
You pick up you iPhone in the morning and learn about what happened while you were sleeping as your phone is set to receive alerts from the New York Times or other news organizations you subscribe to or follow.
The President of these United States says these massacres can be been avoided if there was someone armed at the synagogue. He loves to put fuel on the fire. If it was only so simple!
At the synagogue in Pittsburgh you had three congregations praying together in different parts of the building. The reason for this is that when membership numbers go down, it is impossible for some congregations as well as religious institutions of other faiths to afford the maintenance and upkeep of a building. Shared space is the best way to go.
Who is going to pay for the security person to watch over in, let’s say in this case a big building with people all over in prayer? And can one person with a gun stop these massacres from occurring, whether it be in a Synagogue, Church, School or place of business?
I’m not knowledgeable about guns, but these terroristS seem to come in with guns that can rapid fire many shots very quickly. Is one person going to be able to stop this When the shooter is in one part of the building and the man or lady with the gun is in another part.
Can synagogues or for that matter any religious institution keep their doors open to everyone without impediment in this day and age? Should people entering the building have to go through metal detectors or be wanded before they are allowed to pray?
There are times when I am sitting in Starbucks or out shopping and I see someone who looks a bit off and wonder what that individuals next step is going to be. And I wonder what I should do.
Is it time to purchase a gun for my safety? That’s the question I ask myself all the time. Would I really pull it out to stop a shooter? I certainly would need training before I would trust myself with a gun. Law enforcement receive many hours of training before they are assigned guns. The average person with a gun doesn’t receive this kind of training.
We constantly here about gun control and gun safety. Congress needs to pass laws to make Americans safer. I wish it was that simple. Who are we kidding? If a bad person wants to get their hands on a gun they will. And all the laws and legislation we pass in Washington, Albany, New York State or Yonkers are not going to stop them from hurting others. Don’t get me wrong. Pass the laws. But they are not the panacea many think they will be.
So what should I do? What should we do. If you see something say something. Of course. Alert the authorities If you think someone has the potential to do harm.
Don’t keep your eyes glued to the television news all day. If will make you crazy. Heavens we have 500 channels on the television. There has got to be something out there for you to watch. Put the Game Show Network or Buzzr on to view old TV game shows in black and white. Put Sinatra or Tony Bennett on or listen to some upbeat music by your favorite performer.
We have to take our minds off what’s going on out there and relax. Our elected officials pass laws and hold press conferences to tell us that they have solved the problem and the next shooting occurs. Sadly there is not much you can do when a person pulls out a shotgun loaded with bullets at a Country Western Night at the local college bar.
The only thing we can do is keep those who lost their lives or are injured in our thoughts and prayers. And pray it doesn’t happen again.
On a lighter note!
Readers have been emailing me about the trash cans that have been taken off of the streets of Yonkers recently. I first saw this on the London Tube (train) maybe 10 years ago when I grabbed a scone and there was no place to toss the paper and bag it came in away. So I carried if off the train and put it in an above ground receptacle. New York City uses solar receptacles and I would hope that Yonkers has investigated their use as a possibility. But I have seen way too many of the Yonkers garbage receptacles with bags of ‘personal’ garbage either in or next to them. The City had to do something. Give it a chance.
Can you believe a week from today is Black Friday. Want to know what’s on sale. bestblackfriday.com and theblackfriday.com websites have scans of all the Black Friday ads from most major stores. Macy’s has 10 items that with rebate you can get for free.
So many retailers are offering free shipping above and beyond Amazon Prime even on small purchases. It’s great, but there are thieves waiting to snap up your treasures. Either find a hidden place and tell your delivery person to put packages there or have the items sent to Amazon lockers conveniently located around time. Or have them sent to a place where you know someone will be there to accept delivery.
Two good deals for the coffee lovers out there. Dunkin’ Donuts has a $10 gift card that will get you hot coffees or lattes at a big discount. Starbucks will again offer their holiday mug that gets you brewed coffee or hot tea, as much as you can drink during the month of January. Starbucks hasn’t set their price yet but word has it if you purchase it in the days leading up to Black Friday you will receive bonus stars in their awards program.
Congratulations New York City and in particular Long Island City in getting Amazon to open a headquarters location in town. 50,000 jobs at over $100,000 each is nothing to sneeze about. Yes the city and state gave incentives but if New York didn’t get the new Amazon headquarters someplace else in the country would have gotten it!
We salute our Veterans this week. So many veterans, particularly those on in age would love to attend the ceremonies but they can’t stand in the cold at the Veterans monument in Getty Square. Coldest place in the world. Many have asked me if the city can move the ceremony indoors or as has occurred in the past move the ceremony into the lobby of 53 South Broadway or one of the other office buildings in the Square. Just a thought! We want everyone to be able to honor our Veterans for their service to our country!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM or download the SIMPLE RADIO app for free from the APP STORE
