Terror alerts, warnings etc.

RvW · 02-12-2003, 07:20 AM

How seriously do you take the recent threat of terrorism?

What effect on your daily routine does the hightened risk and warnings have?

Honestly, the only effect on my daily life from these warnings, and all the media attention is stress.
I feel as though I have to be looking over my shoulder for falling bombs, suicide planes what-ever. Loud noises make me nervous, if the TV suddenly goes blank my first thought is that communications facilities have been targeted.
Im not consumed with these thoughts, but am I the only one who keeps these ideas at the front of my mind?

The Fishing Geek · 02-12-2003, 07:25 AM

The raising of the alert level helps convince me that we need to go in and bomb those evil people in Iraq for crashing those airplanes into the World Trade Center.

Go America! Yay George Bush! France surrenders!

02-12-2003, 07:27 AM

If you are forced to live in fear they have won.

Silver Hilton · 02-12-2003, 07:34 AM

SInce I make my living in the stock market, I pay very close attention to all the noise. From a personal standpoint, I worry very little. From a rational standpoint, we are much more at risk, individually, from being killed in an auto accident, than an attack.

AuntyM · 02-12-2003, 07:54 AM

Quote:

we are much more at risk, individually, from being killed in an auto accident, than an attack.

Or a meth lab exploding.

I am tired of the hype and exxagerations from the media, and I am not taking any precautions!

PS.... Saddam, if you read this, please make sure the prevailing wind is blowing to the north/northeast/east towards the shipyard, McChord, Fort Lewis, etc. :grin:

crabbait · 02-12-2003, 08:16 AM

The hightened security measures have had an effect on my job.......they won't let me give tours of the tower anymore until this attempt to sell us a war ends.

We have also been reminded that Canadians are foreign nationals and must be approved by the State Department before we can let them into a Federal Facility, eh. (Feel safer now?)

The powers that be have decided not to bring back the gate gaurds to look under our cars with mirrors again....at least for the moment (gasp....how will I sleep at night).

Every time the phone rings I think, OSAMA? Why haven't we killed the rest of the world yet so that it will be safe for democracy?

The Fishing Geek · 02-12-2003, 08:17 AM

My wife made an emergency kit for me yesterday, and I brought it to work today just to make her feel better. Looking at it, there is chili, beans, sardines, Acetameniphen, a face mask, jerky, and some other things. Almost looks like a great fishing kit to me, now that I look at it.

1pump · 02-12-2003, 08:42 AM

Posted by Keta:

Quote:

If you are forced to live in fear they have won.

Exactly. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. If your number's up, it's up, and I'm not gonna waste any time dwelling on it.
I don't worry about weapons of mass destruction. I worry about weapons of mass disruption.

The Fishing Geek · 02-12-2003, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1pump:
I worry about weapons of mass disruption.

Short skirts on long legs? :grin:

Silver Hilton · 02-12-2003, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fishing Geek:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by 1pump:
I worry about weapons of mass disruption.

Short skirts on long legs? :grin: <hr /></blockquote>Short skirt over Geek legs? Wasn't there talk about you wearing a dress in the politics flotilla?

Silver Hilton · 02-12-2003, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fishing Geek:
My wife made an emergency kit for me yesterday, and I brought it to work today just to make her feel better. Looking at it, there is chili, beans, sardines, Acetameniphen, a face mask, jerky, and some other things. Almost looks like a great fishing kit to me, now that I look at it.

So the face mask is for use after the chili and the beans?

Put a six-pack in there and I think you're set for the river.

Jettin' Fool · 02-12-2003, 05:56 PM

My wife works for a upscale hotel in the Portland area and the FBI was talking with an exec. about keeping eyes open for anything suspiciuos. It does make me nervous of all the talk these days. In the past I never worried about it but now with a 8 month old I keep it in the back of my mind. Now they are saying that Korea has missles that can make it to the West Coast. Theres talk of people stocking up on plastic sheeting and duck tape incase of chemical or "Dirty Bombs". I sure hope nothing comes of the threats but I may get some cases of water for formula and some canned goods just in case.

Fool

Jennie@ifish · 02-12-2003, 06:44 PM

It was driven home to me tonight, on the news, when they showed a red arrow of the direct path of a missile from N. Korea.

Straight through Tillamook, Oregon!!!!

YIKES!

Yip, that got me! It is scary, but as you said, we could all die in an airplane attack. I want more of Geek's patriotism, and belief that we are doing the right thing.

I feel war is imminent now.

All we can do is hope for the best, and know that this, whatever "this" is, is part of a grand plan. At least, that's what I believe.

One thing that bothered me: I saw a little newborn baby in the store yesterday. Instead of cooing and oo-ing over him, I just got this horribly sad feeling.
His future? :depressed:
His life? :depressed:

Jen

GutshotApe · 02-12-2003, 07:07 PM

Jen - It changes things some when you think you might be in actual danger.

I distinctly remember lying in bed at night as a 10-yr old kid in the mid-1950s and hearing jet aircraft flying over and wondering if they were Russian bombers and whether or not they were going to bomb Portland or drop short and hit Longview. Those were the days of bomb shelters and air raid drills and, as kids, we expected there was going to be a big thermonuclear war. I was somewhat optimistic because Longview wasn't downwind of Portland, Seattle or any real military targets that the Russkies would try to nuke. Fortunately, after 43 years, the Cold War was won (by us

).

We are in a different war right now......the Islamo-fascists declared it years ago......reaffirmed it recently and 9/11 was just one of their more spectacular successes. They want to convert us to their brand of religion or kill us. Its that simple.

I'm not worried - this too shall pass and we will prevail....altho additional disasters and atrocious acts may yet occur. :depressed:

RvW · 02-12-2003, 07:55 PM

Jett, Jen, GSA,

Thanks for the honest replies.

The very same thing crosses my mind when I see an infant, the challenges it will face.
The world as we know it is changing, and though people refuse to acknowledge it, its turning in different directions every day.

I sure wish the media would exploit the activism in our society as much as they did in the early 70's....maybe those who believe war is the only answer would be swayed as much as they have been by todays media war cry, which seems to be a huge influence.

Maybe I am seeing this whole thing backwards, but didnt we go to Vietnam and "support" our soldiers, while large numbers of activists where labled pot heads and nonconformists? Now 30 years later we all feel like we should have done something different?

A strong dose of Hypocrisy, in time delay form?

"History will teach us nothing"

The philosophy doesnt apply to "smarter bombs" [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

[ 02-12-2003, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: cirrhosis-of-the-river ]

1pump · 02-12-2003, 08:27 PM

Quote:

I sure wish the media would exploit the activism in our society as much as they did in the early 70's....

If we have another Kent State or '68 Democratic National Convention, they will exploit it.
You gotta remember, civil disobedience was a novelty in the US until the late 60's. These days, everybody has a cause.
Today's hip is tomorrow's hype. True 30 years ago, true now. :smile:

Sea Nymph · 02-12-2003, 08:29 PM

I saw some little babies and children the other day too. They were on TV shown laying dead in the streets with their parents, siblings, friends and neighbors. Victims of a mad man's WMD.

At least the babies Jenn seen still have a life and future.

[ 02-12-2003, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: Sea Nymph ]

RvW · 02-12-2003, 09:23 PM

Its too bad US bombs will hit more of the same children...and not just Saddam himself eh Nymph? I do understand your point, but is it a point to die for? (better yet KILL for?)

1Pump...a novelty?? c'mon! Those were real lives at Kent that were taken by domestic terrorism! Is this a storybook affair? What was the state of the constitutional right of freedom of speech back then? is it too, just a novelty today?

If the effort for peace involves killing....wheres the peace?

02-13-2003, 12:59 PM

How many millions did Stalin kill because we used "reason" (treason?) when dealing with him?

1pump · 02-13-2003, 02:41 PM

Hey, the 50th anniversary of Stalin's death is next month. The entire planet should have a wild party to celebrate ridding the world of history's greatest mass murderer.
May he burn for eternity, right next to his old buddies Molotov and Beria.

02-13-2003, 04:54 PM

1Pump.
I'll be there!!!!

5-Cents · 02-13-2003, 06:09 PM

I know what you are saying Jen, it is scary :depressed: But I think our parents and their parents more likely than not had the very same feelings.

If we allow ourselves to be scared and buy into the hype then the terrorists won. If we allow our freedoms that many have died for since the begining of this country to erode then the terrorists have won.

Remember that the news business is the hype business, whom ever can come up with the best (scariest) headline or teaser will get the better ratings and be able to charge more for advertising. If these radical terrorists were so organized I think they would have struck before now. That being said I think the real problem is North Korea! Nukes, ICBM's and a 1,000,000 + man standing army. That is scary. Hopefully China wont want things messed up as thier country is starting to bloom and will take care of their red headed step child!

Sea Nymph · 02-13-2003, 11:35 PM

uh ok.... so it's not better to kill 1 to save ten? When a psycho practices genocide we shouldn't stop him because someone might get hurt...? eh COTR? By that reasoning we shouldn't bother with even having a military.

I'm sure Hitler could have been reasoned with. We should have convinced him with words to stop killing Jews. I mean heck... look how may people got hurt while we were disabling him.

I understand your point too COTH. I don't like to see innocent people getting hurt either. Who does? I can name one... Saddam.

Big Willie · 02-14-2003, 11:10 PM

VERY well said Sea Nymph. Time for a reality check.

And no, I don't pay attention to the 'threats'. Quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of our leaders talking about them. The media has been getting on my nerves lately.

I do not want to hear about someone somewhere could attack us...what I DO want to hear about is Osama in a pine box. What I DO want to hear about is Saddam being taken out...and in a pine box. My .02

[ 02-14-2003, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Big Willie ]