Last night I watched the movie United 93. A crushing, horrible, beautiful film about people cooperating and trying to be safe. About people using the communication tools in front of them— seat-back phones, cell phones, cockpit alert systems— best they could. In the course of the 2 hours that it took for the whole thing to happen, technology failed them and technology was their best ally.
I remembered why I care about this stuff— about using simple technology to make things better. The government can’t do everything for us. The FAA and the military and the executive branch— they are full of competent, courageous, loving people who were of limited use. They couldn’t even get a hold of the President for a shoot down order. They were watching CNN for their information.
I say “that’s OK”. I would never rail against the deficiencies of these systems or the limitations of these people. We just have to open the circle, just like the passengers of United 93 did. Open wider the circle of those who are of use, who can be effective, who can kill terrorists with their bare hands and devise plans to try to stay alive.
We can do more. Let’s do more.