Quote:
Originally posted by John D Harris:
Where the "Hale" is the walking in the other guys shoes on this one Folks? I can't help but notice there is a whole lot of "walk in the other guys shoes" crowd unwilling to put on differant shoes.
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I travel by air about five times a year. I usually fly out of Logan in Boston because it is only 20 minutes away from me, but I also travel out of Providence on occassion. I have been on airplanes with groups arab-looking men- who traveled together but were seated seperate and who moved around the cabin and used the bathroom. Not once did I find myself in a state of near-panic, nor did I contemplate that any of those Arabs-looking folks were potential terrorists planning the worst.
I also travel by subway around Boston alot, not as much now as when I worked in the city, but often enough. Frequently during rush hour arab-looking men would get on the 'crammed to the brim with commuters' train, ladden with backpacks and other packages. Never once did I think I was about to die at the hands of terrorists, nor did I call 9-11 to say that suspicious looking men with backpacks were on the train becasue just about anyday I would see such a site.
Now am I concerned and aware in situations like this? You bet- I am mister observant. But being cautious and aware does not equal becoming panicked or jumping to the worst possible scenario based on insufficient information. The store I ran in Boston sat directly above a redline subway station. On several occassions I reported unattended packages/bags in and around the subway.
My point? I walk in shoes like those quite often enough and can understand why people are fearful and think the worst- but this doesnt make it okay nor excuse it. I have a small hope that offering the perspective "being fearful is not the only way, there are other ways to reach the same end" that perhaps people will reflect on their own perspectives and consider alternatives.
Living in fear is exactly what the terrorist want out of us and responding with fearful paranoina to percieved threats plays right into their hand.