Irony
Tom Masland reported news from around the world for some three decades. He was by trade a ‘foreign correspondent’. This means of course that he oft times found himself in some of the most troubled regions of the globe, including covering the civil war in Liberia in 2003, when he was injured by shrapnel from a rebel’s rocket-propelled grenade.
“Its a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your front door”. Indeed. In the course of his career Tom Masland found himself reporting from Haiti, southern and central Africa, and of course the Middle East. He had two bouts with maleria and picked up some shrapnel during that civil war in Liberia. All in all however he said “…but it’s hard to match the job of being a correspondent…. I’ve been a reporter since 1973 and I’ve never regretted being a reporter.”
He also noted that “…the most dangerous thing … is riding around on questionable roads in funky taxis. Getting killed in a car accident is still probably the biggest risk, the same way it is in the United States…”.
Tom was also an avid saxophonist. This past Monday night Tom was playing his sax at a jazz club in New York. Finishing up his performance and heading off he was crossing 95th Street when an SUV ran him over. He died three days later from the injuries he received in that accident.
“Humor brings insight and tolerance. Irony brings a deeper and less friendly understanding.” ~ Agnes Repplier
