she's
actual
size

I occasionally watch the noon news before going to work. Today their lead story chilled me to the bone.

A bus driver (who works for a company other than mine, thank goodness) was making a left hand turn and struck two pedestrians. The pedestrians, both women, were caught under the wheels of the bus and dragged for about ten feet. At the time of broadcast, both were in surgery and in critical condition. One woman had a severed leg.

What really upset me about the piece was that they showed the driver. As the commentator droned on about how the driver had a spotless safety record and had been with the company for a very long time, the camera showed her sitting on a curb, sobbing. No charges are being filed at this time, said the anchor. The police are investigating whether another vehicle was involved. As you can see, the driver is very upset.

No fucking kidding.

Let me ask you this. If you were a bus driver who had driven for one company for a while, with no safety violations, and you ran over two people... Shearing off one of their legs...

Wouldn't you be upset?

I sure as hell would be.

I understand that it's the media's purpose to tell the story. I understand that they want to get a complete a picture as possible.

But for god's sake, let the woman cry in peace. Don't plaster her picture on the airwaves. Give her time to herself.

I hope that's never, ever me.