To the Polish flist members

[blamebrampton]

I am so sorry. What a horrible thing to happen. It's as though the evil of 70 years ago is still echoing. There aren't any helpful words, only sorrow for those who die in public service and faith in your country's ability to recover from the hardest of blows. But surely you're due a century or two off now?

Comments

[faynia.livejournal.com]

It's so awful. I just read an article on this ten minutes and shuddered. I don't even know how they're supposed to cope with that. It read like the majority of the major players in their government are just gone. But aren't there usually protocols for that? So things like this don't happen.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's not uncommon to have a number of top officials commuting together in cases like this. The US has protocols to make sure there aren't too many, but it is unusual in the amount it spends on transport for its government officials. Most other countries, like Poland, make a virtue of economy.

There are still, the Times tells me, enough senior parliamentarians to keep the government running smoothly, and the military personnel will have an even smoother transition of power, but these things usually hit a country's heart.

I remember how, under very different circumstances, we felt when Mountbatten was killed. He was mostly out of public life by then, but it was still such a gaping void.

The only such loss I know of that was met with a degree of equanimity was the loss of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt who went for a swim one day and disappeared. Because his body was not found, the whole thing took on an absurd dimension that made it a bit easier for the Australians, though when you speak with people who knew or worked with the man, they still show their grief. As for the general public, in typical Australian spirit, they named a swimming centre after him.

[femmequixotic]

s for the general public, in typical Australian spirit, they named a swimming centre after him.

I do so love Australia. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's a strange place, but easy to laugh at.