Ziana

Author: Sue_xx_yy
Date: 03/17/2004, 07:12 am
bbib

We'll be in your wonderful city in late April. Nothing has changed for us.

My brother died, years ago, from injuries sustained in a road accident here in my own country. Sadly, he is just as dead as if he were killed by a terrorist, so for that matter are my friends who died of cancer. The only difference is that as a cause of death, terrorism 'advertises' itself better.

I don't want to die of cancer or head injuries any more than I want to get blown up by a bomb, but if I think too much about stuff over which I have no control, I'm gonna never get out of bed in the morning, let alone go to London.

FainaAgain

Great post, thank you, Ziana.

To The Top!

islandmom

I agree with this for myself. Although as a parent I think we have an extra need of pause when planning travel. There are many places in the world I would love to see right now but need to wait until the kids are older. A safari is one example. My kids would look like yummy morsels. Same goes for places prone to disease or terrorism. I'm not completely frightened of London though. Same as NYC. It seems like they don't hit the same places too close together in time. But, I would not let fear keep us from traveling to family or major events in life. I still feel like taxis and rental cars are the way to go right now.

WillTravel

Statistically, there's likely a greater risk of injury from car accidents than terrorism.

islandmom

I guess I feel more in control in the car although I know that to be true.

alya

islandmomm,

http://www.the-eggman.com/writings/death_stats.html

these are 2002 statistics.

Paranoia isn't good - your quote regarding a safari wasn't fair to all the companies who take great care of their customers!

Most childhood accidents that result in death occur either in a car or in or close to home

elaine

I just returned from a visit to Israel, which included days spent in territory ruled by Jordan and by the Palestinian Authority. Are we now to think that we went to areas 'safer' than London? Of course not. Although there were times when I felt a bit wary on this trip, especially when crossing borders, even the borders between neighborhoods within Jerusalem, I kept telling myself about the statistics of being run over by a taxi in NYC, let alone the other dangers of living in NYC.

Sue_xx_yy

Good heavens, I don't know whether to be flattered by my old post being resurrected, or aghast at the responsibility. Given how often I have disobeyed Fodors' board rules and gotten into debates, I suppose this serves as partial redemption. (Truly, Ziana, I am humbled by your praise, since I'm hardly the first to say such things.)

As Eisenhauer pointed out, to those that suffer the casualty, or their families, the odds are 100 per cent. But my point really wasn't that the odds are worse for car accidents, etc. than for being killed by a bomb. It was more that I subscribe to the idea that when fate throws one a curve, it isn't a crisis, it's the end of an illusion. (And no, I am not the author of that wonderful quote, though I wish to heck I was.)

Speaking of illusions, I've never been able to convince myself that someone could hate me when they don't even know me. Okay, so once they know me, I'll furnish plenty of ammunition..... ....the point is, the average terrorist cannot possibly know, or care, who I am. If they should ever manage to do me harm, it is because they see me as a convenient pawn.

As much as it's a blow to my ego to think that I am a mere pawn, I find it also strangely empowering. It's true - I really am a pawn. So, attempts to take me or my fellow pawns out accomplishs nothing for our assailants - unless we believe that it does. Nothing defuses the gloat of victory than the response, yeah, so what? If it wasn't you, it would be a car accident - or cancer, or.... so, get over yourself, Mr. Bin Laden. God, you ain't.

elaine

the problem I think is that there have always been too many people in the world who CAN easily hate people they don't know, simply because they are 'other', not the same, not in agreement, or as Sue says, simply unknown. People of Moslem faith were killed on 9/11,they too were considered, if considered at all, pawns. I just don't know if anyone who commits the unspeakable knows or cares what the game really is, or what the goal is.
There are clearly no rules except as they define them ad hoc.

What I do know, and this is not just being PC, is that millions of people of Moslem faith are suffering in poverty, and too many of their so-called supporters in the world, governments and individuals with money, could write checks, organize aid, assist with the peace process, take action against the killers, and prefer not to. They'd rather use the disenfranchised as political pawns, and allow the crazies to do damage and make the headlines.