Grodin: No More Sirens?

A weekly commentary by 60 Minutes II correspondent Charles Grodin:

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In these stressful times, I think it's worth considering anything we can do to lower the stress level, so I have a suggestion. I think a lot of us have a real problem with the stress caused by the siren of an ambulance.

Imagine you're a patient in an ambulance being rushed to the hospital. That siren can't be helpful to your condition.

Even if you're not in the ambulance, just listening to it is a lot different than say lying on the beach.

In New York, instead of the siren I'd like to hear Frank Sinatra singing "New York, New York."

If you were in an ambulance being rushed to the hospital what would you rather hear?

In your state pick your own song. Have a referendum! In Chicago you could have Sinatra's "Chicago."

In San Francisco, how about Tony Bennett's "I left My Heart in San Francisco"?

Of course, that might not be the best song for a heart patient, but any song, any singer is better than a siren.

As far as letting traffic know to get out of the way, I'm sure in time we'll learn to get out of the way of a song, just like we get out of the way of a siren, and getting out the way for a song is a lot more relaxing.