So, here in Springfield we are lucky enough to have beautiful Lake Springfield. Perhaps that sounds sarcastic, but the lake really can be pretty – especially at sunset or sunrise. The shore is lined with trees and some spectacular homes. There are parks, camps, areas for fishing, a zoo, a muni opera, a golf course, and even a beach.
Ah, the beach! Sure, it isn't a beach in Florida, but it can still be nice, especially on a hot day. This particular beach, however, seems destined to foul up the images we have in our minds of idyllic summer days. Several years ago, our beach was closed because an animal died or, at the very least, became really sick after drinking the lake water. I lay no claims to being a scientist so no long, unpronounceable words from me. Whether it was a virus or a fungus does not really matter after all this time, does it?
Last year the beach became even more tragic with the horrible death of a young boy who didn't know how to swim. The worst part of this tragedy, as I understand it, is the fact that the boy, knowing he could not swim, willingly went past the shallow water to an area he should not have been swimming in. Not that I make light of the situation – absolutely not. The family has my complete sympathy. I absolutely cannot imagine what they were (and still are) going through.
As a result of this boy's death, the beach closed for the remainder of the summer. Why? Because at a time when we should have focused on his surviving family and what we could do to ease their pain, all we heard about was how the lifeguards were affected. This greatly upset me at the time, and I find it continues to upset me even today. Perhaps especially today. Frankly, I am downright pissed off and offended.
There are just certain jobs that we, as humans, take knowing they carry the risk of being exposed to the loss of life. That life might be someone else's, but it might very well be our own. The position of lifeguard would be one of these positions. Maybe lifeguard sounded like a fun, easy summer job to some people. Perhaps this group of lifeguards just chose to disregard the possibility of death on their watch – you know, the proverbial "head in the sand" attitude that is so prevalent these days. I happen to feel this is not only negligible but also down right stupid.
The result of this tragic death last year? The beach was closed for the rest of the summer. The long term result? Now that is what I call a twisted side story. The beach is owned by City, Water, Light, and Power (CWLP – er, does anyone feel a Tank Girl flashback at that name?). CWLP is owned by the City of Springfield. At this time, CWLP has not decided if they are going to open the beach. They have, however, stated that if they do, it will only be at the public's own risk – no lifeguards on duty and no chlorine treatments in the water. Knowing this area, probably no spraying for bugs in the vicinity, either.
If this is carried through, does this mean that not only will the public be at risk, but also the city? We might be the state capitol, but we are not as well off as that well-known city up north. With our governor refusing to be a responsible public figure (I'm sorry – that really is an oxy-moron, isn't it?) and staying up north rather than coming here, can our city really afford any liability?
And CWLP, please be honest with us – are you not providing lifeguards because those whiny ass little kids are still upset? Can you please tell them to put on their big boy britches and move on? As I said, my sympathy is with the family, not the people who chose to be lifeguards. Whether they thought about the risks or not, they KNEW they existed. It is time to move on and others should not be deprived just because these lifeguards are upset.
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