I grew up in a small town that had a tannery. Everyone who handled hides in the tannery was always getting anthrax from infected hides. Those people got treated, and never even needed a sick day from work. It was just a part of everyday life for us. <BR> <BR>The postal workers who died waited until their symptoms were very far along. Had they gone to the doctor soon after they started having symptoms, they could have been easily treated. <BR> <BR>

I used to live in Belfast. People there never freaked out like people in the U.S. are right now. And people in Northern Ireland had to deal with countless numbers of terrorists groups fighting against each other, in addition to the terrorists fighting against the police and the army. Everyone there has been somehow personally touched by terrorism, yet they don't cower in their houses and live in fear. The only times they change their daily routines is when they are forced into it by road closings and the like. <BR> <BR>They are the happiest and most contented people I've ever known. They appreciate the little things in life, and know how to have a good time. Maybe some of that will rub off on us.

Ron, <BR>there is a big difference between skin anthrax and inhalation anthrax. <BR>And to Buster: It's funny, but after reading the Post, I got the impression that they said there was a good possibility that the anthrax was DOMESTIC terrorism. I guess we can take our pick.

Ann you are so right! And have you noticed (though with the media here being obsessed with anthrax, you have to go to the BBC World News to hear the information) that the IRA has finally started decommissioning its weapons this week and in return the British Army is dismantling some military posts. A significant bit more progress towards the peace the long-suffereing people of Belfast deserve.

Yeah, Ron, we all know about how harmless the skin anthrax is...but for the record the two guys who died in DC did not "wait too long," as a matter of fact they sought medical attention when they experienced fever and flu-like symptoms and were dead the same day. Besides if they did "wait too long" it's because no one informed them they had been exposed until it was "too late."

The DC postal employee visited the emergency room twice and was misdiagnosed and sent home twice. The third time, he was sent home in a box. <BR> <BR>Don't blame the victim, please.

Ann, IMO, the media are the problems in creating hysteria. Report the news yes, but don't keep putting spins on it. <BR> <BR>Curious, You sound like my 80 year old mother! She half listens to the news and gets every thing mixed up. When you ask her who said what, she can't remember the name of the program etc. Funny, you can't remember the name of the show or have any facts to back up your claim.... <BR> <BR>Anthrax is serious yes, but read in the paper this morning that 20,000 people died of the flu last year....

The tone of this discussion could be improved. As one who resides in the DC area, I know now is NOT the time to point fingers. And by the way, a few weeks ago, the media photographed some catholic kids trying to enter an elementary school through a mob of protestants. One little girl looked so frightened ... she was crying. It was so sad. Did you see that film on TV? I think there's very little to be gained by making negative comparisons of our citizens with others. Terror is terror, and it hurts us all. No one can thrive or be happy, even relatively so, under the conditions we are now facing. Lets try to stop this argument and get back on track being supportive of one another. This is not time to go negative. I do hope you agree. Ciao

L, you have a point. I emailed all my friends, colleagues and relatives and told them to please check out sources before they passed on email hoaxes and information. I gave them the urls of several urban legend debunk sites. There is enough panic and unease going around without adding to it. <BR> <BR>So folks, don't report something here unless you can back it up by solid facts. Thanks.

Just curious, who is it that appears to be spreading hoaxes in this thread?? Andrea Mitchell, the Washington Post, and people who are hearing fighter jets flying overhead are what I'm reading. Where's the misinformation? The only argument going on in this thread is whether or not people are afraid or concerned in DC; some are, some aren't. Let's accept that and stop trying to prove who's "right" about being afraid or brave, or by calling citizens wimps if they sincerely express concern.

No one said anything about email hoaxes in this thread just that they add to the negativity going around. Although, "curious' comments regarding Andrea Mitchell saying that we are in for more terrorist threats are unsubstantiated IMO.

I'm telling you again, folks - turn off the news - all they are doing is whipping everyone into a frenzy.

Bye News-You are so right. People forget the news media is big business and they rely on ratings to set advertising rates. The more viewers, radio listeners they get, the more they charge. So, they sensationalize and use teasers to get us to tune in. CNN is actually trying to get Bin Laden on the air against White House recommendations. Can you believe that?? If they get him, you know darn well he will lie through his teeth...

Didn't you people read the sentence that I wrote which said "take it for what it's worth"? It may very well be worth nothing to most of you. I didn't claim that anything I heard was the gospel truth for crying out loud. I'm just relaying an interview that I heard on the radio. Chuck, of course I don't have any facts to back up my claim. I didn't make any claims and neither did Ms. Mitchell for that matter. She simply stated her OPINION which I thought some of you might find interesting. Apparently it's impossible to relay this to some of you without some people jumping all over me. Where in my post did I state that she made a definitive comment about the anthrax scare being a diversion? If you read carefully I said she THINKS it's a diversion and she then gave reasons to back that opinion up. Please reread my post and perhaps this time you'll get it. I don't know how some of you are capable of having an intelligent conversation.

Just wanted to add Jill that of course it's unsubstantiated, like most everything else on this forum. I thought I made that clear as well but I guess some of you didn't get it.

Calm down curious!

Sorry! It just drives me CRAZY when people misinterprete my words!

It gets crazier every day. <BR> <BR>I have been sending my employees for Anthrax testing all this week. We are quarantining packages from five stations nationwide. I just found a mail container from the State Dept. via Breentwood--it was opened last week. <BR> <BR>A couple of weeks ago an F3 tornado ripped through the woods less than a half mile from my house, my son and I and I hid in the basement. It killed two girls from our church when it went through the University of Maryland. <BR> <BR>In mid Sept. I saw a Moslem girl beaten on the streets of DC, just for wearing Nation of Islam attire. <BR> <BR>On Sept. 11 I stood on the roof of my plant and watched the smoke rise from the Pentagon. Before that I watched the New York tragedy on TV. <BR> <BR>Now, I like having interesting experiences, and some of this is pretty interesting, but enough.....

Johnlw, your experiences in DC are more common than some people seem to realize. It's nice for a number of folks here who can say stop being a wimp, it's worse in other countries, I'm dancing in the fall leaves, my life is completely normal, what are you hysterics going on and on about...How fortunate some of you are living in a safe little bubble and haven't had a personal experience ... yet. Some of you need to get that there are many of us here in DC that are dealing with some stressful feelings based on real, not imagined, experiences. We're not paralyzed, we're not wimps, we know how bad it is elsewhere, we are enjoying the beautiful fall weather, but we're hurting inside and tired and longing for a day when there isn't something new and bad to hear about. Today one of my employees is home with "flu like symptoms" and she was at a meeting at the CIA last week. Hopefully it's only the flu but can you understand what it's like to have to wonder after reading the paper this morning?

Even at my place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland has what seems to be big transport planes flying overhead at night. I assume the planes are military cargo planes flying from Andrews AFB to the air base at Dover. In DC, however, life goes on. People are going back to restaurants and using the subway. Traffic jams are back to pre-September 11 norms. Mail is a little screwed up, of course.