Peggy Noonan: We're All Soldiers Now

Opinion Journal ^ | 11/02/2001 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

On Halloween I had one of those days that veered from scene to scene. In the morning, in the waiting room of a Manhattan eye doctor's office, I watched and listened as a young secretary who was dressed for the day in a Morticia costume--all in black, white powdered face, black eye makeup, black pointy witch's hat placed on her desk, white spider-web hose on her legs--called patients and left messages like this: "Mrs. Smith, this is Dr Jones' office. We referred you to New York Eye and Ear hospital recently, and so you will have to be tested for anthrax. Please call us."

[ventana]

I think backhoe has a ton of links to different sites which advise on safe rooms etc. Advice on how to survive nuclear strikes. I mentioned all this happening about a month or so ago to a bunch of gal friends over lunch. One husband complained to me that I "scared" them. We need to be aware. To be forewarned is to be forearmed and we have been armed. Peg's doind an immense service. I have my food, I have my "safe" room, got the tape, the plastic for the windows, flashlights, batteries, etc. Need the walkie talkie's. Love her idea for a Martha segment! Be of good cheer all, and be good citizens. V's wife.

[Guenevere]

Great article!...Great ideas!

Floridians might have a little harder time finding a safe room..(not many basements here)...but we understand 'disaster planning' ---hurricanes.
Just as our West coast folks understand earthquakes.

....I've got the water, flashlights, batteries, & just about everything else she named........
....I guess my windowless laundry room will do as a safe room....

[vrwc54]

Bump

[FreedomPoster]

Covered on most of the stuff in her article - probably much better than most, especially in some areas ;-) I've bought, and prepped a place in the crawl space next to the basement for, a 55 gallon water barrel. I guess I need to get up from the computer and go fill the thing (with 200 ml of bleach with the water).

[gridlock]

I think the "Ann Coulter Rule" should be applied to Peggy Noonan. A much more substantial woman, IMHO.

[Romulus]

Everyone tells me to get $ 1,000 or more, a mix of small and large bills ...

If we ever get to that point, alcohol, tobacco, & firearms will be the legal tender. Along with gasoline, propane, charcoal, peanut butter, and Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup.

[Romulus]

"Survival Kit contents check. In them you will find: one 45 caliber automatic, two boxes of ammunition, four days concentrated emergency rations, one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills, one miniature combination Rooshan phrase book and Bible, one hundred dollars in rubles, one hundred dollars in gold, nine packs of chewing gum, one issue of prophylactics, three lipsticks, three pair of nylon stockings -- shoot, a fellah could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.... "

[dighton]

“Excellent. There are two invaluable rules for a special correspondent -- Travel Light and Be Prepared. Have nothing which in a case of emergency you cannot carry in your own hands. But remember that the unexpected always happens. Little things we take for granted at home, like . . .” he looked about him, seeking a happy example; the room, though spacious, was almost devoid of furniture; his eye rested on a bust of Lady Copper; that would not do; then, resourcefully, he said: “. . . like a coil of rope or a sheet of tin, might save your life in the wilds. I should take some cleft sticks with you.”

-- Evelyn Waugh, Scoop.