The situation that took place in Florida yesterday sent shivers down my spine. Actually, it kind of terrified me. While I realize that not everything is about me nor should everything be about me, I find it almost impossible to not think selfishly sometimes especially when it concerns my biggest, most irrational fear. People say there is no such thing as a selfless act. I believe that. It’s probably safe to say that one thinks selfishly as well.
While the details are still fuzzy, I heard today that Rigoberto Alpizar suffered from Bi-Polar Disorder. As reports are released, we’re finding he was “a nice guy” who apparently completely freaked out while onboard the American Airline flight headed to Orlando. There is a member in my family who suffers from an extreme case of Bi-Polar Disorder. I keep thinking about him especially considering he resembles Rigoberto at least in the picture featured on CNN today.
In mid-November a French woman, who was drunk on alcohol and who had taken sleeping pills to thwart her fear of flying, tried to open the airplane door in order to smoke a cigarette. She remembers nothing of the act. Who can say whether she was indeed freaking out at the time or if this is a story concocted up by her lawyer to receive a lesser sentence, either way, she decided in some altered state of mind that it’d be perfectly OK to open the door of the plane and step outside for a smoke. She was lucky. She wasn’t shot to death.
When I fly, I enter a deranged state of mind. All rational thought leaves me. I need constant reassurance from Toby Joe. Constant. Every sound, smell, cough, sputter, twist, turn, ebb, announcement, hell, even complete silence sends me into a state of panic. Nothing seems right. Nothing.
Do guns really you feel safer while flying? Right after September 11th, 2001, I was absolutely got behind arming air marshals onboard all flights. I felt safer somehow knowing they could take down anyone who might cause harm. After all, had there been armed men onboard any or all of the flights the morning of September 11th, 2001 things may have been different today.
But during a time where tensions are high, anger is right below the surface fueled by raw fear; I can’t say it makes me feel that safe anymore. As far as I’m concerned, as long as the people working in the actual airport are doing their job, screening each and every customer boarding each and every flight, I don’t see the need anymore for having armed air marshals inside a giant can 30,000 feet above sea level. Do you feel safer onboard a flight surrounded by armed air marshals? I’m just not sure anymore.
Mihow 
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