"First They Came ... " (Why injustice upsets me)

This poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984), of which there are many versions, explains why I get upset about unjust things that happen to others. Things that some people would say shouldn't have an effect on me.

This version is the one found at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. I added the fourth line to make it easier to understand for those with thicker skulls and/or smaller brains.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the [fill in the blank], and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a [fill in the blank].

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

Anyhoo...

Keith Ballard retires and NHL workplace safety

Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard has decided to retire after not playing for a year due to post-concussion symptoms. While not a superstar, Ballard was more than an average player simply for giving all he could every second he was on the ice. He was the type of player every team needs to have any type of success.

While a loss in many ways, retiring is the right decision health-wise, even if Ballard could get medical clearance to play again. Michael Russo of the Minnesota Star Tribute talked with Ballard about the incident that led to this fate and his current plans in this article. (Which I was pointed to via this TSN article.)

In a game against the New York Islanders in St. Paul, Matt Martin hit Ballard with a legal and not very big check a few feet from the player benches. Ballard avoided most of the hit but spun around, lost his balance and struck his face against the dasher on top of the boards where there is no glass. (Here's a video from the Isles' MSG+ broadcast via YouTube; but watch it at your own discretion.)

I've long believed the dasher should be changed in some significant way. It should at least be rounded more, but should really be modified to have some kind of cushioning inside that would allow it to compress when hit. Even along the glass where it is much less prominent, the dasher can do damage.

A modification like that could have reduced the damage to Ballard's face. More importantly, it could prevented him from being knocked so silly that he was unable to brace himself as he fell, where he hit the back of his head hit the ice, knocking him unconscious and leaving him convulsing. Ballard amazingly walked to the dressing room on his own two feet after coming to.

I don't know of any real attempts having been made by the NHL to improve on the design of the dasher. Concussions due to fighting and head-shots are in the spotlight, but should not overshadow other serious problems; in this case, a flaw in the safety of the actual playing field. And while there would be obvious costs in development, installation and upkeep of new dashers, the various costs from incidents like Ballard's greatly outweigh the former.

Anyhoo...