Do We Still Travel During War??
 

My daughter and I are going to Hawaii in May. Do we still go if we are at war?? Is anybody changing their plans??

I wouldn't go....What if the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor again?<BR><BR>Don't change your life...just be more cautious of terrorists, which you should be doing anyway of you're travleling

Unless you are going to the middle east,you should be fine. I don't think tensions towards americans will be bad in Hawaii!!

<BR><BR>I'm probably not going to hop on the next flight to Baghdad.<BR><BR>But I am going to travel. Have a U S trip planned for March, and an overseas trip planned for May.<BR><BR>I think you'll have a great time in Hawaii. In fact, I kinda wish I were going there. Someplace warm . . . ahhh.

Personally I think you'd be much safer in Hawaii compared to the Mainland. Like others said, go, have a great time, and don't let the fear keep you from doing the things you want to = ) Have a great time.

Last year in October my mom had a trip to Austria, Czech Republic, and Turkey planned. Then the US starting bombing Afghanistan. She did cut Turkey out of the trip, too close to the action, but she still took the trip. Her trip to Scandinavia had been canceled the year before due to her bout with cancer so she sure wasn't going to let a little thing like WAR make her miss out on her travels 2 years in a row!

No one has mentioned the moral implications of travelling during war. I mean - generally those who travel for leisure do so to enjoy ourselves. But at a time of war, a time of national sacrifice, when many families of soldiers in the U.S. and innocent civilians in Iraq may be mourning the death of loved ones, is it right to travel? Will I even enjoy myself after reading about such casualties? I have definitely been thinking about this, but haven't changed my plans yet!

I had planned to, on all my new tax savings. Now I learn that I will have to use the money to process my medicare and Veterans benefit paperwork instead.

Tommy, I guess I don't understand the connection. Maybe we should also feel guilty about traveling and spending money while people are starving, even in our own country. Or we should feel guilty that people are suffering from incurable diseases. But just like with war, I don't see what one has to do with the other.

It's nice to know some are thinking beyond hedonistic pursuits, whether in or out of war, tommy. If your gut's got you questioning the morality of leisure travel during war, maybe you should be thinking about a more meaningful &quot;sacrifice&quot; than just postponing your trip. But IMO, that's your cross, not mine.<BR><BR>girlfriendred, if you decide not to go, I'll buy your tickets at $.50 on the $1.00.<BR><BR>

sorry, beachbum - not ready to sell yet.

I thought about it EdnaB, and here is why I think there is a difference btw terminal illness and starvation versus war. Illness is a fact of life, there is nothing I can do to prevent it and it just happens. And while theoretically, starvation is preventable, in reality, it isn't. These people are victims of uncontrollable circumstances that have nothing to do with me or my actions. But when it comes to war, whether we agree with the reasons for it or not, we as Americans are in it together, collectively. Therefore, our soldiers who risk their lives are in reality risking their lives for me. They are making a sacrifice, so that in the end, you and I can live our lives freely and under all of the ideals that define us as Americans. When someone is sacrificing something so important in my name, I have to question if it is morally correct to undertake something as frivolous as holiday travel. Hunger and disease are terrible things, but in these situations, no one is making a sacrifice in my name that might make me queston my own actions regarding personal fulfillment. <BR><BR>Concerning beachbum's suggestion of a more &quot;meaningful sacrfice&quot;, I suppose you are suggesting I enlist? I am far too old and gay to be accepted as a volunteer in the armed services. But that shouldn't stop me from considering the moral implications of my actions during a time of war.

My sister and I are traveling to Hawaii in May as well .. war or not. It will probably be done and over by then most likely.

Flying from london heathrow to pheonix at end of April - can't say I won't be anxious though - Londoners are kind of expecting something terrible to happen - our governments hurry to buy in more body bags isn't too reassuring!<BR><BR>But if we stop because of fear - the terrorists are winning aren't they?

Tommy,<BR>If a significant number of people take up your cause and &quot;sacrifice&quot; for the cause, more and more people in the travel industry will end up out of work as they did after the events of 9/11/01 when travel fear cause the industry to all but crash. Tens or perhaps hundreds of thousands of people lost jobs in the aftermath. I hope people will consider of these people trying to make a living and for the good of the economy TRAVEL!!! As a person lucky enough to be in a fairly recession / economics resistent industry, I will put my hard-earned dollars into travel, war or not.

I took Tommy’s meaning to be what is right for him...his “victory garden” so to speak. I also thought it was sincere, eloquent and beautiful. But to allay your fears, SaraLou, I doubt that very few will sacrifice in this particular manner.

I understand this Coco but my opinion of sacrifice is to actually make a tangible contribution. For example, I plan to take my relative, whose son is a Marine leaving for the Middle East any day now, on a vacation. Her financial situation severely limits her ability to enjoy travel. With her fear and anxiety for her son in war, giving her a relaxing few days away is my way to actually make a difference for those people suffering through this threat of war.

No, I wasn't suggesting you enlist, Tommy. But, you might:<BR><BR>1. use your travel $$ to organize a rally in support of our troops;<BR>2. provide financial assistance to a family whose bread-winner has been called from reserves to active duty;<BR>3. send $$ to the Red Cross or some other organization in support of re-building lives in Iraq.<BR><BR>I think you get my point; without some level of personal involvement, I think your gut will tell you your &quot;sacrifice&quot; is empty.

I will still be traveling some, and I don't think I'll feel any more worry than my usual vague unease about plane travel.<BR><BR>I am a lot more nervous about two trips my 13 year old daughter will be taking. She will take a choir trip to NYC in late March, and a pseudo-school trip to Italy and Greece in early June.<BR><BR>Statistically, I believe that it's extemely unlikely she'll be unsafe, but the old maternal anxiety is kicking in. I've already had a conversation with her about my being a little worried; I don't want her to interpret my allowing her to go as a sign I don't care about her. There are always going to be things to worry about, and I agree with the point about not letting the threat of terrorism curb your enjoyment of life.<BR><BR>I don't think I'll back her out of these trips unless there is a state department warning about an area, or there is other reason to pick out one place on a trip as concerning. I'll try to keep myself very busy while she is gone.<BR><BR>I have been traveling a couple of times close to terrorist activity. When I was pregnant with my daughter, the building next to our hotel in London had an explosion in one room that was supposedly a terrorist messing up on a bomb and killing himself. I was also traveling in France during 9/11, and was riding a bike by the US embassy in France when it was discovered that there was a plot to blow it up.

I certainly am not intending to change my plans, and I'm planning a trip to Germany, Austria, and Czech Rep. next summer regardless of whether or not we pursue this insane war.

Hey - put on the brakes SaraLou. This is not my cause! As I stated, I have not decided to stop travelling. In fact, I am on this website to investigate possibilities for the three trips I am in the process of planning for this year. But I was surprised that in this post, everyone was speaking about not letting fear spoil their good time, but no one considered whether they should actually be having a good time. Living in NYC, I remember my own mixed feelings about this after Sept. 11, and it is something I have been thinking about again as I contemplate the mounting possibility of more American casualties. I am surprised that others aren't considering it. That's all.<BR><BR>And P.S. - Thanks Coco.

Yes, Beachbum, that is my point too. You said it so well. If you want to sacrifice, why not do something to actually make a difference? One way I can add, because my sister used to volumteer for them, is the Navy Relief Fund. It helps the family of servicemen and women who are away on missions when there is a family emergency. As I understand it, they offer monetary assistance as well as assistance in contacting the serviceperson in an emergency. I believe Navy Relief is available to other branches of service too but I could be mistaken on that.

Tommy, I was in the army and in Vietnam.<BR>From what I know people at home didn't hang their heads and mourn for those of us who were there facing it every day.<BR><BR>What I remember mostly about the news at home were people &quot;protesting&quot; the war, not about how america was doing without travel, this, that, etc. I always have wondered how it would be to &quot;protest&quot; a war when you are safe and sound at home and no one really trying to kill you.<BR><BR>I guess the point is, I would support our troops no matter what, as they will go and do what's ordered of them.I will hope for the best for them, share their concerns and fears. But I will live my live as normally as possible while they are there.

I agree with Saralou, traveling puts money back into the economy and war will hit the economy hard. Also, we are fighting for a safe free nation so, that we can continue to travel at our will. Feeling guilty and not traveling seems to only defeat the purpose.

Agree with Trisha and others also. If we started feeling guilty about traveling we should feel guilty about homelessness and so many of the nation's problems we can't control. It is important for those who can afford it to spend right now, I certainly do not want the airlines to go bankrupt. Hopefully if people continue to travel it will help others in the industry get their jobs back.

A lot of Americans employed in the travel industry depend on a robust travel sector for their continued employment, i.e., to be a tax-paying contributor to the economy and not dependent on welfare or other assistance. Many individuals lost their livelihoods after 9/11 and I hope more (including myself) aren't doomed to the same fate.

I'll weigh in -- <BR><BR>In my opinion, not traveling does not constitute a &quot;sacrifice&quot; for the troops stationed overseas. <BR><BR>I don't agree with this war, but I feel for the soldiers and their families regardless. However, not traveling won't do a thing to improve their situation. <BR><BR>GW has done enough to hurt the economy and a war will just make it worse -- the best thing I can do for the U.S. is get out there and spend some $$$ on travel. <BR><BR>

Many excellent points in an intelligent discussion. Thanks.

What I can't believe is all the Euro-trash and liberals who criticize Bush have said nothing about how Fodors is now indexing by each individual poster. In all the talk about registration no one thought about this. Are you all brain dead? Aren't you outraged by this? <BR><BR>If the board wasn't dying before -- which it was, with shockingly low response rates -- it's dead for sure now. <BR><BR>RIP -- the Fodor's board. Where rational people USED to meet.

What are you talking about - indexing ??

I finally found a reply which I really enjoy. I have to give Topper a great big hand and congratulate him for his reply. I think the remark that the Japanese might bomb Pearl Harbor again is hilarious. Topper must have a great sense of humor. This is a reply which is benign and doesn't hurt anyone, yet makes a great point.

Well, Magnus, let me be the first to burst your bubble. I have just cancelled my scheduled trip to London next summer. I have done this on the advice of my (conservative) aunt who reminded me that &quot;We are not very well liked around the world right now.&quot; This, of course, is all a part of the 'wonderful' diplomatic skills that our Resident embraces. My travel will all be within the continental U.S. until we get a civil tongue in the white house. Catagorize that.<BR><BR>Happy Trails,<BR>Paul

<BR>One change in my plans: I'll spend only one night in Munich when I arrive at the end of March. The next day, I'll catch a train to Prague since the Czechs are supporting us on Iraq.<BR><BR>Cassie, what I remember mostly about the news at home was GIs on stretchers &amp; body bags. Casualty numbers. A lot of the protesters just wanted to get you guys home.<BR>

I think the most interesting thing about this discussion for me is that it points out how far removed most of us are from this pending war, and highlights the fact that this war requires virtually no sacrifice from anyone except those who are being asked to go and fight it. While I would not advocate cancelling travel plans, I still find the rather cavalier attitude that some have expressed toward pleasure travel while our young men and women are putting their lives at risk, ostensibly to protect us, rather sad.

You are right Magnus. We should be outraged that Fodors has made it possible to look up all the other threads of a poster when we find one who seems to be an expert on a certain field. And even more outrageous they have made it possible for us to easily look up all our own threads to see if they have been answered. We should be up in arms over such outrageous behavior. Why it's right up there with the outrageous practice of some books adding an index so one can find information more clearly -- and even a newspaper which dares to let you know what page certain things can be found on. How dare they make this site easier to use effectively!!! WHAT???<BR><BR>OH, wait a minute. I get it. You're bothered because now someone can click on your name and see that you never offer any advice here or ask travel questions but only come to discuss politics. And now that you've been discovered for doing that, you're outraged by it.

I really think it's important to remember that while travel is recreation for the traveler, it is bread-and -butter for those who make the travel possible. The original post is about Hawai'i and that is certainly one area where the travel industry makes up a large part of the economy. If you think it is insensitive to travel, are you also going to not watch a movie, read a magazine, buy things that are not necessities? Personally I will travel as I can afford to and unless I feel it is not safe.

Magnus, You could always search for a specific poster's posts. All you had to do was type their name in the search field. So long as they had a somewhat unique name, and not xxx, it was quite easy to do. This is really nothing new.

Paul, I'm so glad more people DO NOT think like you. I am in the travel industry which was severely hurt by September 11th. You need to remember there are hundreds of thousands of us. By the way, American citizens have always been disliked around the world.