I have lost my job at a resort because of the terror attack
Sep 15th, 2001, 04:52 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have lost my job at a resort because of the terror attack
The layoffs connected with the terror attack and peoples fear of travel have already started. I was one of them.
Reading this board I understand why I am now out of work. I use to work at a resort near Walt Disney in Orlando. Over fifty percent of the people who visit Orlando travel by air. Since the plane crash the resort I use to work at has received 100s of cancellations and advance bookings are way down. The result is they do not need as many people working at the hotel/resort because of lack of business. So a number of us were laid off. I have started looking for another job but with the uncoming depression in the tourist business, no jobs are being advertised.
Many people told our reservations agents they were afraid to fly, others felt guilty about going on vacation because of the deaths in New York and DC. Needless to say, cities and companies that depend on travelers are now facing financial ruin and mass layoffs.
Do the people who felt guilty about enjoying themselves after the exploding plane feel guilty about people losing their jobs, their homes and careers because of the lack of travelers?
Something to think about!
Reading this board I understand why I am now out of work. I use to work at a resort near Walt Disney in Orlando. Over fifty percent of the people who visit Orlando travel by air. Since the plane crash the resort I use to work at has received 100s of cancellations and advance bookings are way down. The result is they do not need as many people working at the hotel/resort because of lack of business. So a number of us were laid off. I have started looking for another job but with the uncoming depression in the tourist business, no jobs are being advertised.
Many people told our reservations agents they were afraid to fly, others felt guilty about going on vacation because of the deaths in New York and DC. Needless to say, cities and companies that depend on travelers are now facing financial ruin and mass layoffs.
Do the people who felt guilty about enjoying themselves after the exploding plane feel guilty about people losing their jobs, their homes and careers because of the lack of travelers?
Something to think about!
Sep 15th, 2001, 05:25 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
I appreciate your post and am sorry that you are one of the resulting victims of this attack. I live in NY and there are concerns of such a wide spectrum. I am, of course, concerned about the victims in the trade center. Last night, I attended a candle light ceremony at a fire house on the upper east side with NINE firefighters lost. It was hard not to cry during the ceremony. But, past that there are victims of certainly a lesser degree...the restaurant down my block which opened last week that no one is going to because they are not in a mood to try something new but are flocking to comfort places (places they frequent); the concern of the frozen yogurt salesman down the block who "looks middle eastern" and fears that his business will suffer even though he is one of the nicest guys and Bengali; the people of the airline industry when they hear that no one is buying tickets and that the airlines may need a bailout after a couple of months; my own concern that I live next to a post office that had bomb threats from people who should go to jail for a long time for their strange sense of humor during a state of emergency; Cantor Fitzgerald employees who are lucky to be alive but unsure how they will feed their families if life doesn't go on like normal soon.
Your story is not uncommon but no less important to you. Unfortunately, it is impossible for the residual concerns to be pushed up to a primary concern of the population generally at this time.
Your story is not uncommon but no less important to you. Unfortunately, it is impossible for the residual concerns to be pushed up to a primary concern of the population generally at this time.
Sep 15th, 2001, 06:38 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
I am a successful travel agency owner, 1 person who makes a living from this and I am amassed that I will be put out of business. People who are insensitive to what will happen to the economy are living thru rose coloured glasses. We in the trvel industry from hotels to airline agents to travel agencies are indeed the first and foremost frontline business people who are affected from day one fromt his tragedy.
Sep 15th, 2001, 06:53 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Dear Dreaded:
While I understand that your career will suffer, I can't hold back from replying to you. Please do not say that you and people in your profession are at the frontlines suffering from this tragedy. (even if you did mean it at a business level) What about ALL of those who just lost their own lives in this cowardly act? And those thousands of families that have lost a relative? Please be thankful that you are alive, and put your situation in perspective.
While I understand that your career will suffer, I can't hold back from replying to you. Please do not say that you and people in your profession are at the frontlines suffering from this tragedy. (even if you did mean it at a business level) What about ALL of those who just lost their own lives in this cowardly act? And those thousands of families that have lost a relative? Please be thankful that you are alive, and put your situation in perspective.
Sep 15th, 2001, 06:54 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
To Agent:
I understand your concern, but it is very hard for me to put your problems as being "first and foremost" of anything. Nobody comes before those people who died and the loved ones they left behind. I was there when it was raining body parts down onto the street. I also saw brave firefighters and cops running into the burning towers only to never come out. One of those firefighters was a single father who left behind a very young daughter. There are hundreds of people who live in the area who have lost all their possessions and some who have also lost their jobs. We're all hurt by this but we're going to figure a way out of this mess.
I understand your concern, but it is very hard for me to put your problems as being "first and foremost" of anything. Nobody comes before those people who died and the loved ones they left behind. I was there when it was raining body parts down onto the street. I also saw brave firefighters and cops running into the burning towers only to never come out. One of those firefighters was a single father who left behind a very young daughter. There are hundreds of people who live in the area who have lost all their possessions and some who have also lost their jobs. We're all hurt by this but we're going to figure a way out of this mess.
Sep 15th, 2001, 07:32 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
I am one of those people who is refusing to fly until the FAA starts taking security seriously and makes wholesale changes. I was about to buy tickets for travel later this year, and I'm going to pass.
I am really, really sorry that my decision will have immediate consequences for people in the travel industry. But for people like me to blithely hop back onto planes to preserve your livelihood will do more harm than good. Nothing in airport security will change, it will be business as usual in a few months, and the next planes will be headed for high-rise buildings in SF and LA.
Who knows? If airports start being secured in the ways I think they should, there will be plenty of great jobs in the airline security industry. Maybe you can be a sky marshall, Todd.
I am really, really sorry that my decision will have immediate consequences for people in the travel industry. But for people like me to blithely hop back onto planes to preserve your livelihood will do more harm than good. Nothing in airport security will change, it will be business as usual in a few months, and the next planes will be headed for high-rise buildings in SF and LA.
Who knows? If airports start being secured in the ways I think they should, there will be plenty of great jobs in the airline security industry. Maybe you can be a sky marshall, Todd.
Sep 15th, 2001, 08:56 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
I am terribly damaged emotionally for those poor people who lost their lives.
I did not mean to interpret the act of being "inhuman". But, 2 months from now our economy will effect miilions of people and their jobs whether you are in the travel industry or not. For those of you who have the security of a job, never say never, do not be ignorant.
12,000 people just got laid off.
I am empathetic to everyone and have a
conscience to look and see the consequences.
I did not mean to interpret the act of being "inhuman". But, 2 months from now our economy will effect miilions of people and their jobs whether you are in the travel industry or not. For those of you who have the security of a job, never say never, do not be ignorant.
12,000 people just got laid off.
I am empathetic to everyone and have a
conscience to look and see the consequences.
Sep 15th, 2001, 09:22 AM
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
To Agent:
I don't think anyone on this board is smug about having a job. If your area or business hadn't seen any layoffs until now, then count yourself luck. In NYC, before the attack, there were already around 20,000 layoffs with more to come in the securities industry alone. With this attack the number will probably be even higher. The country's economy had already been sliding into a recession; that's why the Federal Reserve headed by Alan Greenspan had been cutting interest rates like crazy. Will the attack make things worse faster? Absolutely. Are people aware of it? I don't know about where you are but they know it in NYC. Occupany in mid to high priced hotels had already started falling even before this horrible attack.
I don't think anyone on this board is smug about having a job. If your area or business hadn't seen any layoffs until now, then count yourself luck. In NYC, before the attack, there were already around 20,000 layoffs with more to come in the securities industry alone. With this attack the number will probably be even higher. The country's economy had already been sliding into a recession; that's why the Federal Reserve headed by Alan Greenspan had been cutting interest rates like crazy. Will the attack make things worse faster? Absolutely. Are people aware of it? I don't know about where you are but they know it in NYC. Occupany in mid to high priced hotels had already started falling even before this horrible attack.
Sep 15th, 2001, 09:59 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
It doesn't seem to have occurred to any of you that being unable or unwilling to travel for pleasure may not be an option in the near future. If we go to war, and it is looking more and more likely, fuel will be used by the military. Few of us can remember WWII; therefore, few of us have any idea what an all out war can do to our country. I know you think this war will be no more disrupting than Desert Strom, but I'm afraid we may be in for a very unpleasant surprise. "God bless us every one. . ."
Sep 15th, 2001, 11:31 AM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
We need to reassess our priorities and reinvest in our country. But with calm and reason. The alternatives of war and revenge that are being bandied about will change our lives as we know them. A conventional war against well financed terrorists (who have private jets and could be anywhere in the world) makes no sense. If we rush to take out Kabul we are just helping with their recruitment efforts. Everyone just be calm.
Sep 15th, 2001, 02:06 PM
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Agent..the entire leisure industry will become effected. You can always join the service to fight.. I worry about the children who have lost a parent, the parents who have lost a child..and the people who died and the people whose jobs were wiped out in the buildings. Most of all the biggest worry is what is going to happen to the economy of this country Monday when the stock market opens..and the economy goes down hill.. We have all been given checks by President Bush.. now he is going to have to tax us to pay for the war..
Sep 15th, 2001, 02:13 PM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
I don't think anyone is taking war lightly, but at what point does this stuff become enough? Lockerbie (sp?), the Marine barracks in Saudi Arabia, the embassy in Africa, the USS Cole, the TWO bombings of the World Trade Towers? Think about the number of people jailed for these acts versus the number dead. Are we winning this battle of attrition? What is the incentive for the terrorists to stop? What do you say to all those who died? "Sorry...we don't want to hit back and risk upsetting our cushy life so we decided to sacrifice you instead." Bullies don't treat pacifism very well.
On the question of using a conventional war: don't you think the "behind the scene" stuff has already been tried over the past ten years? On the point of changing our lives by striking back: don't you think things have already changed going forward?
On the question of using a conventional war: don't you think the "behind the scene" stuff has already been tried over the past ten years? On the point of changing our lives by striking back: don't you think things have already changed going forward?
Sep 15th, 2001, 02:26 PM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
This level of penetration is far beyond what we ever before experienced. This was a horrible direct hit on America. But as your examples point out, terrorism has been growing exponentially over the last decade. This is the new battlefield, and nuclear defense shields don't really help with terroristic attacks, do they?
Certainly not all the targets of terrorists over the past ten years have been American. Do you remember the Paris and London bombings? And the almost daily suicide attacks in Israel?
As a country, we have been spared this immediate reality. I will agree with you that this is an extremely well financed and organized network that declared an ideological war a long time ago.
To be effective, we need to understand the nature of the enemy. They are highly compartmentalized and mobile.
Certainly not all the targets of terrorists over the past ten years have been American. Do you remember the Paris and London bombings? And the almost daily suicide attacks in Israel?
As a country, we have been spared this immediate reality. I will agree with you that this is an extremely well financed and organized network that declared an ideological war a long time ago.
To be effective, we need to understand the nature of the enemy. They are highly compartmentalized and mobile.
Sep 15th, 2001, 02:31 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
This is a nightmare for us all.. but for some more than others. People who has lost a loved one or who are searching for loved ones would gladly give up their jobs, their homes, their bank accounts and everything they have to have their loved ones home again. Keep things in perspective. If you lose your job or go out of business, it's a terrible thing. But in a year or a few years I'm sure you'll land on your feet. The lives of those who have lost friends and family will never be the same again.
Sep 15th, 2001, 04:12 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
To xxx:
Yes, other countries have been targeted but have you noticed the pattern that we are increasingly the focus? I agree our enemies are organized and hard to find; it will be a difficult and bloody task. This is not the Gulf War; if anything, it is closer to a Vietnam situation. This time, given enough patience and support, I am confident that we can find them or least get close enough to do severe damage (BTW, I am not a fan of the Vietnam war.)
However, this is more than about catching one person. I believe we need to set a tone to the world that we're not going to sit here and take it anymore.
Yes, other countries have been targeted but have you noticed the pattern that we are increasingly the focus? I agree our enemies are organized and hard to find; it will be a difficult and bloody task. This is not the Gulf War; if anything, it is closer to a Vietnam situation. This time, given enough patience and support, I am confident that we can find them or least get close enough to do severe damage (BTW, I am not a fan of the Vietnam war.)
However, this is more than about catching one person. I believe we need to set a tone to the world that we're not going to sit here and take it anymore.
Sep 15th, 2001, 06:37 PM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Charlie: It makes me wonder what kinds of discussions they are having at Camp David. I agee with your analogy. This is a global Vietnam, not the Gulf War. Osama bin Laden is a figure-head, and he could be anywhere. There are hundreds of independent terrorist cells out there, but they can be isolated economically and strategically if we can develop an international intelligence front.
As far as setting the tone, we must be sure that we are not in effect just accomplishing their desired goal: to incite the U.S. into hasty military action, further polarizing the arab world. Their desired end is to recruit more zealots to their cause.
I have great faith in Colin Powell. His m.o. is to not engage militarily unless we can prevail. But this is no Gulf War. It's much more complicated.
As far as setting the tone, we must be sure that we are not in effect just accomplishing their desired goal: to incite the U.S. into hasty military action, further polarizing the arab world. Their desired end is to recruit more zealots to their cause.
I have great faith in Colin Powell. His m.o. is to not engage militarily unless we can prevail. But this is no Gulf War. It's much more complicated.
Sep 16th, 2001, 05:34 AM
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Economic and strategic isolation has been our policy for the last 10 years and is clearly not effective. In the modern world, it is impossible to do that against an individual; money is fungible; you can can always find a way to route money around. I disagree with you that we risk stimulating more support for him. bin Laden and people like him will always have his supporters. I would say that now is the perfect time to do something about him. After 5,000 dead or missing, the the rest of the world (including Arab nations) would find it impossible to object or side against us. The people who do not side with us would never side with us anyway. I think we need to do the proper amount of planning and investigation but time is critical; you don't chase after a roach months after you've seen it.
