bluemax

I'm tempted to travel to the UK from the US in the next few weeks? Does anyone have any thoughts on the sanity of such an endeavor given the threat of war? Thanks in advance.

AnnaC

Why not? The risk in the UK is not likely to be any higher than the risk in the US. As for the actual travelling, I suppose there's a tiny risk, but I really wouldn't let it stop me from travelling. It's not as if you're going anywhere near Iraq.

Erin

I am traveling to London with my mother and my aunt on Feb. 26. I understand you fears- somewhat. I am a 25 year old women, and I think women in general tend to think more of safety issues when we travel, and the treat of war, even though it is very far away from the UK can increase that fear. Specifically, what are you nervous about? Are you nervous about the actual flight? I think air travel is safer now than it ever was. I also think that if someone tried to do something drastic on a plane now, they would almost certainly be stopped by other passengers- we are definitely more alert. Are you worried about your safety when you are in the UK? I really am not. I have the phone numbers and locations of the US Embassy and Consulate with my travel documents if I need them. Most importantly, I plan on using common sense- stay alert and stay away from demonstrations, etc. I highly doubt you will be attacked because you are an American. I've learned from this board that the citizens of the countries we all travel to make the distinction between us as Americans and our leaders who issue foreign policy- in other words, they may disagree with the position our country has taken on an international policy, but they don't/ won't take it out on us personally.

If the events of the past couple years have taught me anything, I've learned that we not any safer in our homes than abroad. Street crime in the UK is much lower than anywhere in the US- the police don't even carry guns. Can you imagine our police not carrying weapons (that is a scary thought!). All in all, I think you will be ok.

Try not to be worried. Go and enjoy yourself!

Lola

Interesting timing of this question. This mornings paper tells of the murder of an American artist in Victoria Park in London.
My thoughts are that it no matter where you go, an American abroad may not be safe.

xyz123

I didn't see the article but do you really think this guy was murdered simply because he was American? I sort of doubt it; especially in the UK.

elaine

I think statistics will show that no one is more safe at home than they are abroad. Traffic deaths,random crime, cancer etc are statistically much more deadly than terrrorism and can happen anywhere anytime and do, yet we don't stay home for fear of being hit by a bus. We hope the odds are with us, and go about our business. Ditto regarding travel, imo.

AnnaC

No, she wasn't. She was very, very unfortunate. She was jogging in a public park, at 8:30 in the morning, with many other people about. She was stabbed - motive unknown, although suspected to be sexual.

Let's face it, we can all get killed anywhere, any time. It's far more likely that you'll get run over by a vehicle on your way to pick up a pint of milk, than involved in any kind of terrorism.

While I think it's sensible to avoid war zones, or places likely soon to become them, I really don't believe that any of us should cancel our travel plans because of a possible war in Iraq. During Desert Storm I was living in France and travelling both around that country and to and fro to my home in England. It felt no different from travelling at any other time - Iraq is still a very long way off.

cnmiranda

Lola, do you realize there are about 50 murders per day in the United States? Per CNN, there are 18,209 per year. Somehow I think we are a little safer in the UK than we are here. I think nationality had little to do with the unfortunate death you read about, but even if it was, what about all the hate crimes we have here? It's the exception not the rule.

Go bluemax! Don't let the fear keep you from doing things that make you happy =) I think the chances of being victim of a terror attack worldwide are one in 7 million. Leave your worries behind and go and have a wonderful vacation.

rex

Your state may have a website like one of these:

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/traffic/crash/fatality.htm

or

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/dailyreport.html

I wonder if ANY residents of Wisconsin or Tennessee have been injured or harmed by "America-directed" hostility so far in 2003 - - let alone killed.

Travel is generally safe. Living is inherently (a little bit) dangerous.

Best wishes,

Rex
[email protected]

Lola

Yes, although people dying in car accidents is a well used example of how many people die in the US and elsewhere, the question here was Does anyone have any thoughts on this...
these were mine.
Americans are being told to keep low profiles when out of the US, why was this artist picked out of the many other joggers and people in the park?
I have always felt completely safe when in London, never giving a thought to my safety at night or in parks. But it is true that the British people are mostly against President Bush and any war, and Americans are the brunt of many debates whether they want to have them or not, while in England. So who is to say that this girl didn't die because she was American?

Lola

PS-
unfortunately, there are more than 50 murders a day in the US.

cnmiranda

Interresting bit of information regarding safety in England per the UK telegraph: Homicide rate is 1.45 per 100,000 in England and Wales, compared with 1.63 in france and 2.60 in Spain. In the US it is 6.26 per 100,000 population. London has one of the lowest homicide rates around the world's major cities. The least safe included in the home office survey were Washington DC, Pretoria, Moscow and Tallin in Estoria.

xyz123

Most Americans are also opposed to what this so-called President is trying to do. After all, he didn't get a plurality of the votes, his brother fixed the election and the clowns on the Supreme Court went totally against their previous pious interpretation of states right to steal the election from the rightful winner. And yes this post is travel related as we are discussing the safety of Americans when tavelling in England where a majority of the people are against this clown's policies.

cnmiranda

365 days X 50 unfortunate circumnstaces = 18,250. 50 per day is about right unfortunately.

AnnaC

I would be astonished if this woman was targetted because she was American. How could anyone know that a random jogger in the park was American? She had no identification on her at all - the police had no idea who she was for some hours.

The park is in an area where locals feel nervous, although the park itself seems to be seen by many as something of a haven. Many people were on our local news bulletins saying that there are frequent attacks on people in the area around the park and they are now nervous about jogging.

I live here in London and if anyone was going to be attacked for being American, trust me, it wouldn't be in a park in the East End. It would be in a tourist area. If anyone was out looking for an American, they'd be far more likely to find one there than in a local park in a residential area of the city.

Maira

For the first time ever, I am feeling apprehensive about traveling to Europe in the present circumstances. I based this apprehension in many accounts of friends and family who have returned from Germany, England and France with tales of hostile behavior, of people switching tables to sit away from them, been told they are not welcome in establishments in Paris, etc... One incident, two, maybe even three would had not make me think too much about it, but there are a lot more frequent than even some are willing to admit. My friends/family invariably had a good time, but these incidents would have ruined the experience for me. It won't be long before this escalates.

AnnaC

Oh and just because many people in the UK are anti-Bush doesn't mean they are going to go round killing Americans. I can't say I've ever felt the temptation myself, although I am as anti Bush and war against Iraq as anyone.

Since Blair is supporting Bush's policy on Iraq at the moment, the logical extension of the argument that British people will attack Americans, is that we will also attack British people, since our own leader is in support of Bush. That doesn't make any sense at all.

Sylvia

The artist had lived in London for many years. Unless she was actually known to her attackers, how could they possibly have known that she was American?
I believe that another woman has been attacked in the same area and that the motive was probably sexual.

AnnaC

Maira. I'm very disappointed in my country if we are making American tourists feel unwelcome. Although I am anti-Bush, I also realise that a majority of American citizens did not vote for him, so how can I blame any given American for his actions?

Please don't feel intimidated - I truly hope that you don't experience any such incident, but if you ever do, please realise that these extremely rude people are not typical of Europeans and do not represent the views of the majority.

Kate

Lola, perhaps you've missed the fact that if war happens, we Brits will be in it as well. Our Prime Minister is as much involved/in favour as your President. Naturally there is debate in the country about whether we should be going to war or not, but this isn't about anti-American feeling, this is about anti-war feeling. You forget that our two nations are very closely tied, and Americans should feel more welcome here than anywhere else. Britain isn't anti-american.