Posted on 01/09/2004 3:37:55 PM PST by The Magical Mischief Tour
Question about flight simulator brings visit from police By VIRGINIA RAY Recorder Staff
COLRAIN - An innocent inquiry to a Staples store clerk about a computer software program that teaches how to fly an airplane by instrumentation brought a surprise visit this holiday season to a local family from the state police.
"At first, I felt a little angry and violated" about someone telling authorities about her inquiry, said Julie Olearcek, a 15-year Air Force Reserve pilot. "But now that time has gone by, I realize it may take someone like that, who's a little nervous, who may save the day." Olearcek's husband, Henry, is also a flier, currently on active duty, and frequently away from home these days.
About a week before Christmas, Olearcek said the couple's 10-year-old son, who has flight simulation software and is keenly interested in learning to fly like his parents, commented that he'd have to wait until his dad retired to learn to fly by instruments. She went to Staples soon after and took her son to the office supply store, where he looked through the available software.
"He was disappointed because there was military stuff, but it was all fighting stuff, so I asked the clerk, and he was alarmed by us asking how to fly airplanes and said that was against the law," Olearcek said. "I said I couldn't imagine that, but, because (the clerk) was a little on edge ... I left." But "what saves us, is people are paying attention," she said.
Olearcek said she and her husband both were well aware that the Office of Homeland Security had raised the threat level during the holiday and of the generally increased terrorism alert following the Sept. 11 plane attacks.
"And rightly so, this puts people on edge," she said.
But she was taken aback by what happened next.
"By 8 p.m., a state trooper was at my house," she said. "At first, it was a little unnerving because it was pouring rain and my husband had just left ... My son said he heard someone walking around outside and it startled him. We had put our Christmas tree in front of a sliding glass door and the trooper ended up tapping on the glass of that door and putting a flashlight in and it scared us."
But Olearcek said she doesn't believe the trooper was intentionally trying to frighten her family. Nor does she blame the clerk for erring on the side of caution.
"We all have to be aware," she said, not really even wanting to speak of the incident on the record, but wanting to keep the record straight. "It's not just the people in uniform who have to be looking after this country. So when people see something out the ordinary, they pay attention. Maybe by the way we worded the question - who knows? - it triggered the individual. Still, if they had done their homework (at Staples) they would see I home school my children and am a frequent customer and have a teacher's ID on file."
Olearcek said the trooper asked her if she had inquired about the software, and she said she had and showed him her military identification.
"He was totally understanding, but protocol means he has to follow through," Olearcek said. "I immediately gave him my military ID and I had no problem giving it to him. At first I felt like, 'Wait a minute, this is America.' But we also have to understand it takes everybody to pay attention. At first I was a little frazzled with someone knocking on my window at 8:30 at night, but the bottom line is this is a civilian who has tried to do his best."
Sgt. Donald Charpentier of the Shelburne Falls State Police barracks said police received a telephone call from the Staples manager "that a person had been looking for instructional videos regarding flying planes."
"Those programs are quite common for entertainment and training, but he felt it was suspicious enough to warrant a call," Charpentier said. "We responded, and it turned out to be innocent enough; a person looking to buy a Christmas gift."
Staples' spokesperson Sharyn Frankel said the employees were doing what they have been told to do.
"After 9/11, our store associates were instructed that if they see something suspicious or out of the ordinary, they're to contact their managers and local authorities," Frankel said. "It's all about keeping our associates and customers safe and this was out of the ordinary and kind of raised a red flag and they did what they thought was right."
"Bottom line is we've all got to look out for each other, and I wasn't harmed," summed up Olearcek. "And what if it were the other way around? It's going to take everyone in each town to look after one another."
I guess you're right.
Remember the insanity of the ragheads who took flying lessons but didn't want to learn take offs or landings? Remember also that certain suspicious flying-school employees notified the FBI which declined to take action?
Alert employees didn't prevent 9/11 so why bother?
Right?
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://12thman.us/media/jihad.rm (Requires RealPlayer)
And the mom, in her burka, was 12.
(I don't suppose there's ever been a case of someone using a kid as a decoy to get or do whatever they want. Oh, it happens all the time in the illegal drug trade? Gee. Imagine that.)
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://12thman.us/media/jihad.rm (Requires RealPlayer)
If you think that it is necessary to call the cops, when someone inquires about flight sim software, or videos, you are probably rational, anyway! You're just paranoid!
I am willing to accept the risk, rather than 'your papers, please'!
I guess, I would rather not worry about what maybe could happen...! It keeps me from having ulcers...!
That is like saying 'wear your seat belt', you won't get into a wreck!
There is little common sense, any more, it seems. There are too many folk that think the g'umt will protect them! ROTFLMAO!!!!!
The g'umt is only going to take away their freedom, and their money!
"... For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day...." 2 Timothy 1:12 -
Yes.
You wrote, I replied.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://12thman.us/media/jihad.rm (Requires RealPlayer)
What you condone is exactly the sort of thing that the terrorists want. When all Americans are suspicious of their neighbors and afraid of their shadows, the terrorists will have won.
You're being overly dramatic. This wasn't a police check-point it was an alert citizen doing what should be done, a cop following up on that information and another citizen, though inconvenienced, manifesting a great attitude about it. They all acted appropriately and should be commended for it.
On the other hand, macho-Rambo-chin-in-the-wind thinking will jeopardize the lives of many. What part of "We're At War" don't you understand?
Go take another look at the videos of people jumping from the towers on 9/11 and tell me we can blithely go our way without regard to what's going on in the world.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://12thman.us/media/jihad.rm (Requires RealPlayer)
But terrorists killing a few thousand, hundred thousand or million Americans won't mean much of anything. Right?
I see what you're saying. We have no cause for concern. Nothing will ever happen again. (Wesley Clark said the same thing Friday -- provided he's elected.)
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
http://12thman.us/media/jihad.rm (Requires RealPlayer)
That is absolutely not what I'm saying. The rational among us understand that there is no way to prevent all terrorism and that trying is futile. Some preventative measures are warranted and others aren't. Do you realy want the government scrutinizing everything that you say, do, read, think -- or try to purchase?
As a wise man once said, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
AMENDMENT XIV
Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
-excerpted from The Constitution of the United States...
I am not showing 'macho', only reality... You are not safer, due to this 'War on Terrorism', they just want you to feel safer... and I guess it is working, for you.
I wrote this earlier, on another thread. "There have been two DEAD men found on board two different flights arriving in the US, within the past two weeks, while we were involved in a High Threat Level. They could have just as easily placed explosives in the wheel well, where their bodies were found, and blown up the cockpit. Air Marshalls, screenings, nor anything else would have kept those planes in the air."
WE ARE NOT SAFE... and will never be...
That is so stupid. Ok, it's already and orange alert, and a bud guy would just be getting started learning how to fly?
How do you train an idiot to not be an idiot ???
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