Well, an open 911, I would soon learn, is a major calamity in the making, like a burglary or assault or hostage-taking in progress, a plea in which the caller himself or herself manages to dial out but does not – or cannot — speak.
He said: "By failing to deal with some of the more challenging aspects of our divided society, political progress is held hostage by our past, the legacy of which can derail us at any moment".
Sarah Shourd, who was one of the three American hikers detained in Iran, in 2009, told me this week, "The U.S. government threatening Iran has never resulted in any hostages being released, or any progress in negotiations on larger issues.
The talks dragged on for more than a year with little sign of progress and the hostages were only released in January 1981 to coincide with Ronald Reagan's assumption of the presidency.
But quick progress could be held hostage to the financial crisis and the prospect of a worldwide recession.
In the face of injustice and poverty crying out for action, our country's progress has been held hostage by extremists of stasis.
I have to say clearly and frankly we cannot have progress if we are held hostage to corruption and dishonesty".
As government forces battled rebels elsewhere in the southern Philippines, negotiators flew to Manila today to consult with President Joseph Estrada on the progress of talks to free hostages being held by one rebel group.
And ironically, Republicans will have held the debt ceiling hostage to produce a result that blocks further progress on long-term deficits and debt.
Holding institutions hostage to their past and ignoring direction of travel and progress doesn't suggest much of an ear to the ground.
While American healthcare reform continues to be held hostage by pure partisan politics, elsewhere leaders are forging real progress on one of the most important issues of our time, with a huge impact on healthy aging.
