Terrorism has struck a lot closer to home than people in Salisbury are accustomed to. The near-simultaneous detonation of
explosive devices at two Lowe’s stores — one here and the other 40 miles away in
Asheboro —brings an unwelcome strain of chaos to the community.
Why someone would choose to
endanger the lives of innocent people out shopping on a fall afternoon escapes
understanding. They’re buying paint for fix-up jobs, grass seed for the lawn, light
fixtures for an addition. What have they done to deserve being blown up?
Fortunately, the damage and
injuries were light in Salisbury. In Asheboro, a woman suffered burns on her head and back
and was taken to a Chapel Hill burn unit.
The outcome of these explosions
could have been much worse. If the blasts had set off the paint thinners — which may
have been the intent —the impact could have been devastating.
And what about the intent? Someone
apparently has a beef against Lowe’s, or a dislike for home-improvement shoppers. But
that person or persons have chosen a particularly cowardly and cruel way to show it —
acting anonymously, endangering people who have no role in whatever frustration or anger
motivates the act.
The people behind these explosive
devices have now had the thrill of getting a public reaction. Luckily for them and their
potential victims, no one was killed. Now’s the time to stop this deadly game and
turn themselves in. Federal, state and local investigators are closing in. Thirty federal
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents are on the case.
Salisbury may be unaccustomed to
bombs and terrorism, but the ATF agents are not.
Helping ourselves
The worst natural disaster in
North Carolina history may be bringing out the best in the state’s citizens.
Schools, churches and other
organizations throughout the Piedmont have responded with speed and compassion to the
suffering of people in eastern North Carolina.
The rushing waters that swept over
the coastal plain in Hurricane Floyd’s wake may be replaced by a flood of bottled
water, canned goods and other donations.
It will take years to repair the
damage this disaster has caused. The biggest part of the work may require extensive
federal funding. Gov. Jim Hunt visited Washington to inform officials of the full extent
of North Carolina’s plight. Millions of dollars are needed to fix washed-out water
and sewer systems, bridges and roads.
But thousands of North Carolinians
stand ready to help in any way they can, big or small — from students collecting
canned food at school to nurses and doctors volunteering to work in the flood-ravaged
area.
North Carolina is asking
Washington for help. But citizens of all ages and incomes are also showing that
they’re quite willing to lend a hand themselves. |
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