Florida school to London: "We don't have trains blowing up in America"
The band is one of many US student organizations invited to perform at the annual Brit happening; the Jefferson County (Colorado) Marching Band, the Missouri State University Pride Band and the Appalachian State University Band are among those slated to march (London Parade site).
Fort Myers school officials refused the invitation "based on lingering concerns from last summer's London subway and bus bombings, which killed 52 people," according to the News-Press; the story quotes parade executive director, Robert Bone, as initially responding: " 'We're fighting for the integrity of London... We will not let this slide.' "
London Parade issues response: Ignorant Educator
Regarding parade officials' statements about London student travel safety, the News-Press quotes Lee County, Florida, high school consultant Herb Wiseman as saying, " 'It still doesn’t explain what happens if kids get on a train that blows up. We don’t have trains blowing up in America.' "
In a statement from Kirkby Monahan Publicity following Wiseman's comments, Bone said, "Here is an educator that seems to delight in the knowledge that he is ignorant of the facts." Bone offered to fly to Florida to discuss the situation with the school board, students, and parents.
London safe; Florida catastrophic...
No current travel announcements or warnings exist for London or Great Britain; a travel public announcement means government officials believe care by American citizens is required to avoid danger, such as terrorist threat, while traveling or living in a foreign country.
The Kirby Monahan statement notes that UK residents continue to visit Florida "in droves" despite "catastrophic hurricanes" and details UK support to the US after terrorist attacks in New York on September 11; the statement also notes that London is not "a city under seige" and unfavorably compares Fort Myers' murder rate to that of London.
Chances of being hit by a hurricane on Marco Island, about 45 minutes from the airport in Lee County, Florida: 1 in 7. (Source)
Comments
Not everyone here agrees with the ignorance of our school superintendant, James Browder. After Browder & Wiseman made fools of themselves with their ignorance, the board voted today to allow the parents of the band members decide this issue. If 80% of those parents agree and they can raise the money, the band will participate in this parade. Sadly, this had to become an international debacle, making our county look like a town full of ignorant hillbillies.
If ignorance is bliss, then “Humble Herb” must be one happy fellow indeed. I always thought that the clowns wintered in Sarasota.
I don’t imagine that the invitatation came without some effort on the part of band members, boosters, parents and the like – if all your work comes to naught then I am truely sorry.
The School Superintendant is just thinking about his kids. May I just suggest, though, that Hollywood stop making action movies where the (US) star knowingly goes into danger, overcomes all adversity & finally beats the bad guys because we all know that you’re really a race of yellow chickens.
We’ve lived through IRA outrages that the US Irish have supported without a wimper or sniffle