[va-bird] Re: From Wash. Post today

At 08:24 AM 6/14/2005, Otter 919 wrote:
>Birders Flock Together In Quest to Return To Bay Bridge-Tunnel
>In Face of Terrorism Concerns, Nature Lovers Crafted a Strategy

I commend Ned Brinkley and others who were instrumental in working out a 
plan that would seem to allow continued access to the CBBT.  What worries 
me is the practical application of the plan as outlined.

Who is going to provide the background checks?  The CIA and the FBI, as 
mentioned in the article?  They're so far behind on that type of thing now 
that I suspect an "amateur bird-watcher" wanting to have a background check 
done so they can bird the CBBT is going to fall WAY down on the priority 
list.  Can you really just call up the CIA or the FBI and ask them to do a 
background check on yourself?  Who pays for it?   Forgive my paranoia, but 
do you really WANT the FBI or the CIA to open a file on you, no matter how 
innocuous your life has been?

As far as the $50 an hour police escort, how would that be 
arranged?  Picture January and you've just heard of some great bird that's 
only been seen twice on this side of the world and you've GOT to chase 
it.  You survived your background check several months ago and now you have 
to convince an off-duty police officer to spend 2-3 hours out on the CBBT 
while you hope this treasure flies by again.   Good luck!

 From what I've seen reading this listserv over the years, most of the 
great finds on the islands were located by people who stopped by for a 
little while during trips from one side to the other, or people who stopped 
every day to see what might have turned up.  That would no longer be 
possible under this plan.

I don't mean to sound so pessimistic, but I feel like those who control the 
CBBT have in effect won.  And for what?  Anyone wanting to take out the 
CBBT could do so at any time of day, on any given day.  All they have to do 
is drive into it and blow it up.  No one is suggesting background checks 
and escorts for those driving through it where they're hidden for a good 
part of the trip, only for those walking around up where they can be 
seen.  Plus, the security measures have now been listed very conveniently 
in a national newspaper.

Though it might not sound like it, I'm actually glad that ANY access, to 
anyone, will be granted.  I'm just sad that I'll probably never be on the 
CBBT again, and one more spot has been restricted for the average person, 
all in the name of needing to "do something", whether it's effective and 
makes sense, or not.

Robin
Alexandria, VA



You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.

Other related posts: