Here’s an important message from Bernstein Crisis Management president Jonathan Bernstein, available in both text and audio form. Permission to re-use with attribution is freely given.
Terrorists overseas have been exploding bombs and conducting armed attacks at public events for decades, but the United States’ experience in this area was limited prior to the Oklahoma City bombing and the horror of September 11. At the same time, here in the U.S., we seem to have had more than our fair share of homicidal maniacs who target large groups.
The crisis management lesson common to these tragic events is the urgent need for all citizens, for all event organizers, for all venues, to stop thinking that it can’t happen here, wherever here might be. A number of the interviews I heard from the slaughterhouse in Boston yesterday reflected this dangerous perspective. None of us have any excuse to do so anymore, because when do we actually ENABLE the goals of would-be terrorists and criminally insane individuals. With knowledge comes responsibility. We can’t prevent all of these horrific acts, but we can prevent some of them and reduce the damage from others.
Jonathan Bernstein
President, Bernstein Crisis Management
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com