They said the words. Like a self-fulfilling curse cast upon themselves, they said it in New York, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Jacksonville, Boston, Aurora, Columbine, Newton and, now, sleepy Garland, Texas.

They said the words, but in their hearts they knew that they weren’t true because bad people are everywhere and it is up to the good ones to prepare themselves in every way to face the evil when it darkens their doors.

They said the words because they wanted to believe.

They said the words because someone told them they were true.

They said the word because the alternative was completely unimaginable. (more…)

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In recent years, most media companies around the world have worried only about their IT safety measures. Since the Charlie Hebdo attacks this January, our perception of security in Europe, the knowledge that you were more likely to arrive home in one piece after a day’s work than not, that was always taken for granted, has changed. Now we nervously glance over our shoulders for suspicious characters, profiling, looking for a man in an overcoat on a hot day, just in case our media product might be understood by some idealist to be provocative. We no longer like to stay in the office by ourselves, and we certainly don’t feel welcoming towards uninvited guests in our office buildings.

Yes, times have changed. I’ve seen it.  I watched a lone gunman enter a building, completely unchallenged, to shoot and kill two of friends and business associates.

The World has changed.

In many countries, Freedoms of Press and Speech that are necessary to create engaging entertainment, simply are not that “free” anymore.

Now we struggle for personal protection from an outside evil without a country, without a face, and without a conscience.

Safety comes in many forms; A policeman, young soldier, or government official. But what do we do when we are alone?  What do we do on that unthinkable day when the shooter comes calling in our lobby? (more…)

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