London 'too risky' for US school band - GoFuckYourself.com

Sarah_Jayne · 04-05-2006, 01:30 AM

London 'too risky' for US school band

A US high school marching band has been banned from taking part in a London festival - because it's too dangerous.

Education officials in Florida feared the 140-member band from Fort Myers High School might be caught in a terrorist attack.

The band had to turn down an invitation to take part in London's 2007 New Year's Day parade after their school chiefs ruled they would be "safer in America".

One angry pupil, Ethan Lapham, said: "It's more probable to be struck by lightning or be murdered in your sleep, than to fall prey to an attack by al-Qaeda terrorists.

"There is no better time to show these terrorists that we have no fear of them. Instead we are forced, through the cowardly acts of our superiors, to hide in shame."

But Herb Wiseman, high school consultant for Lee County, Florida, pointed to the July 7 London bombings.

"What happens if kids get on a train that blows up? We don't have trains blowing up in America," he told the Fort Myers News-Press.

Organisers of the London parade, who have invited groups from all over the world, offered to fly offficials to England to put their minds at rest, but they refused.

Bob Bone, the parade's executive director, said: "Here is an educator that seems to delight in the knowledge that he is ignorant of the facts. London is not a city under siege."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1788038.html

04-05-2006, 01:30 AM	#1
Sarah_Jayne Now with more Jayne Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 40,077	London 'too risky' for US school band London 'too risky' for US school band A US high school marching band has been banned from taking part in a London festival - because it's too dangerous. Education officials in Florida feared the 140-member band from Fort Myers High School might be caught in a terrorist attack. The band had to turn down an invitation to take part in London's 2007 New Year's Day parade after their school chiefs ruled they would be "safer in America". One angry pupil, Ethan Lapham, said: "It's more probable to be struck by lightning or be murdered in your sleep, than to fall prey to an attack by al-Qaeda terrorists. "There is no better time to show these terrorists that we have no fear of them. Instead we are forced, through the cowardly acts of our superiors, to hide in shame." But Herb Wiseman, high school consultant for Lee County, Florida, pointed to the July 7 London bombings. "What happens if kids get on a train that blows up? We don't have trains blowing up in America," he told the Fort Myers News-Press. Organisers of the London parade, who have invited groups from all over the world, offered to fly offficials to England to put their minds at rest, but they refused. Bob Bone, the parade's executive director, said: "Here is an educator that seems to delight in the knowledge that he is ignorant of the facts. London is not a city under siege." http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1788038.html