[DFT] Fw: [ChivalryToday] Chivalry News Desk

[Seanan]

>From the Chivalry Today News Desk
By Scott Farrell
©2004, Shining Armor Enterprises
www.ChivalryToday.com

Chivalry in the Dead Zone?

Today's news item comes from a weblog of sorts - a journal kept by a
Russian woman whose hobby is high-speed motorcycle road-rally racing.
Or, in other words, "riding really fast along deserted roadways." This
woman, named Elena, achieved a degree of Internet celebrity recently
when she posted a photo essay of a memorable trip she took on her
Kawasaki Ninja through the "dead zone" surrounding the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant.

The "dead zone" is an area that's still contaminated by radiation as a
result of the disaster that occurred when Chernobyl's reactor #4 went
into meltdown in 1986 - and, according to reports, this area (roughly
400 square miles) will be uninhabitable for at least 300 years.

With a special pass, Elena had the opportunity to ride her bike along
the empty roads of the "dead zone" at speeds of up to 180 mph with no
danger of hitting anyone or endangering other motorists. For a
motorcycle enthusiast, it sounds like the trip of a lifetime.

Elena also took along a digital camera and a dosimeter to measure
radiation levels. She exposed herself to potentially lethal levels of
contamination on her trip, which brought her within a few hundred yards
of the "sarcophagus" where the still-smoldering reactor core is
entombed. Yet her photos and text provide a chilling look at something
that people outside the former Soviet Union might not otherwise have
ever seen or known about. For a journalist, it sounds like the story of
a lifetime.

I was describing this story to some friends a few days ago, and we
began discussing Elena's actions. Was what she did an act of knightly
courage, or foolish joyriding? Here is a representation of the spectrum
of opinions that were expressed during our debate:

Some thought that her trip was nothing more than a childish jaunt that
demonstrated recklessness more than courage, and could even be seen as
an insulting violation of those whose lives were shattered by the
disaster. Taking pictures along the way was just an excuse for
self-aggrandizement.

Some felt that, since the trip was recreational in nature (Elena isn't
a professional reporter or photographer) it wasn't particularly brave
because she didn't have any fears to overcome. She was just "doing what
comes naturally," with a few pit stops along the way to take pictures.

Others thought that Elena's trip was a courageous act that revealed an
important truth in a worldwide forum - and that just because she was
able to do that while pursuing a hobby she enjoys doesn't make it any
less valiant, noble or admirable.

Our little impromptu "round table" debate didn't come to a consensus on
this topic, but we did all agree that Elena's photos and story were
fascinating and compelling. I pass them along to Chivalry Today readers
so you can consider your own opinion about whether or not Elena on her
Kawasaki Ninja is a knight in shining armor.
Follow the link below (or cut-and-paste the address into your Web
Browser) to read the whole story ...

Ghost Town by Elena: http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/

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Readers are permitted and encouraged to share this article with others
as a way of furthering the understanding of the Code of Chivalry in the
modern world. Scott Farrell's seminars on chivalry and the knightly
virtues are available to businesses, schools and civic organizations
throughout the Southern California area; more information can be found
on our website. Please include all copyright statements and
attributions when forwarding Chivalry Today articles. Copyright 2003
Scott Farrell and Shining Armor Enterprises. Visit our website at
www.ChivalryToday.com .