Sitting down to write this column with the savage barbarity of Bestlan still being vomited through every media orifice stifles me from task, thought or word, I don’t feel like writing, what’s the point……
Well there is a point, there has to be. Time is a wonderful factor; in actuality there is a two-day gap from the end of the last paragraph to the beginning of this one. I haven’t rationalised events in the Russian town of Bestlan, there is no concept of rationality that can be applied. Are the terrorists’ actions the result of some other unspeakable atrocity that didn’t make it to the international news networks? Or is it a case of terror groups (or freedom fighters depending on your perspective), trying to out-terror each other?
Let’s remember the innocents lost but let it also strengthen our resolve to make as positive a contribution as possible to our local and global community and water down the actions of the few.

Why did the chicken cross the road…… different people can give different answers that reflect their own experiences.
Captain James T Kirk is reputed to have answered, “to boldly go where no chicken has gone before.”
Darwin argued that it was the next logical step for the chicken after coming down from the trees.
Frank McCourt may have said that life on that side of the road was too miserable what with the consumption and the unceasing rain an’ all.
Whereas Liam Lawlor denied ever meeting the chicken and even if he had met the chicken he certainly had no idea what its intentions were and in fact the claims of its crossing are greatly exaggerated.
Now if you asked - oh! let’s say - an environmentalist (a diverse group that I also claim membership of) why the chicken crossed the road and a lot will portray the crossing as a conflict between the chicken and the road and comment that it was damn lucky to make it across. It recently occurred to me that it would be an interesting and thought-provoking way of assessing and communicating how safe particular roads were and the impact they have on our lives by giving not only a percentage probability of the chicken making it across unscathed but also a time limit that the chicken could stay standing at the side of the road waiting to cross without asphyxiating on exhaust fumes.
This is a thought that I will be developing over the coming months and any assistance that can be offered in defining the cross chicken index (henceforth to be referred to as the CLUCK INDEX) will be welcome.
I am aware that this is a light-hearted approach to a very serious subject, but being white knuckled and preachy all the time on any subject can often be self defeating and more can often be achieved with humour than with grief.
Bestlan stands testament to this.