September 13, 2012 (Thursday)
Three days in Los Angeles saw three high speed chases through the streets and freeways of that megalopolis. On Monday, after eluding capture for four hours, the driver escaped. On Tuesday, the offender was shot by police. Wednesday brought one of the most bizarre chases this country has ever seen. After robbing a bank, from time to time during the ensuing chase, the robbers threw money out the windows 
of the SUV. People scrambled to pick up the cash for themselves. Finally, so many people crowded the route to get the money that the vehicle was forced to stop and two of the four robbers fled the scene. The other two were arrested.
Looking at films of the chase, from above the scene, I saw that people were actually putting themselves in harm’s way by running to the money even though police chase vehicles were bearing down upon them and swerving to avoid them. Greed trumped self-preservation, proving once again the Bible’s warning: “The love of money is the root of all evil.”
This was far from the most important news story of the week, but it was certainly unusual. In all probability, those who risked their lives to pick up the cash for themselves slept well last night, never worrying that the money is not rightfully theirs. Many people today, if asked the meaning of the word, “integrity,” would have to ask for a dictionary. Alas, ’twas not always so.