Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
This article has brought a number of thoughts to mind. I will try to share them briefly. 1.)It was in reading Paul Theroux's "The Old Patagonian Express" that I was faced with the fact that I was often misusing the term "American" when I described my citizenship and heritage. Theroux points out that in South America, he met many people who called themselves "Americans" because of living on that continent and were offended by the misuse of the word by U. S. citizens. I have also found that a number of my Canadian friends have similar feelings. Was this article written for citizens of both continents, or just U. S. citizens? 2.) As a railfan, I have often taken some of my freedoms for granted. In the Fall of 1998 while doing some Per Diem work at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, I walked a few blocks east to the Union Pacific track to watch the southbound Amtrak train go by (about 6:45pm). I was wearing slacks, a sport coat and necktie with my hospital badge in plain view. Two policemen stopped to check on me. They were just doing their neighborhood rounds. We had a nice visit. I was not doing anything wrong. They were not suspicious of me. They respected my hobby. I appreciated their care for the community and for my safety. 3.) I have been guilty of acting in ignorance around railroads in other countries. As a 17-year-old, my father and I tried to take some pictures of the mouth of the Simplon Tunnel from the station platform in Iselle, Italy. Three men (station employees) ran out of the station toward us shouting, "No! No! No!" They escorted us back to our rental car. Since we could not understand each other, there were many gestures. They were very displeased with us. Our cameras and film were not taken from us. Although our dignity was tarnished. The events of the past few years may be showing us in North America what railfans in many parts of the world deal with on a regular basis. We have taken the safety and security of our transportation system and our hobby for granted. <br />Finally: How can I practice my hobby and be a good citizen? In addition to keeping up-to-date on any new rules and laws, I plan to write some local officials about the possibility of the construction of a railway viewing platform for my town. What better way to celebrate citizenship and my hobby than in a municipal railroad park? <br />Thank you for a very thought-provoking article. <br /> <br />Tom Busch
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag