With operation Iraqi freedom in full swing, one can presume that war, terrorism, and public safety are in the forefronts of most Americans' minds. While the ongoing military action should be at the center of everyone's thinking, it can not be allowed to become a constant, overbearing thought hindering the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. When Americans, or subgroups of Americans like those in our educational institutions, give into fear of terrorism or a war backlash they are not only acting foolishly but also dangerously harming both the morale and safety of the United States.
Across America, schools are bowing to heightened terrorist alerts by canceling trips for as far away as Europe and as nearby as the next town ("Schools cancel trips amid war worries," CNN.com, March 29, 2003). While parents, educators and teachers may see this move as a safety precaution it is quite possibly the worst action the schools could take at this time.
First and foremost, the schools are caving into terrorist threat. They are, as it has been said so many times before, letting the terrorists win. By not allowing their lives to continue on as before they are showing that the terrorists have in fact made an impact on American life and therefore were successful in their endeavors.
That is not the face we want to show terrorists. It not only devalues every lost life in the Sept. 11 attacks but also makes the country prone to even more onslaughts. If terrorist cells think they can actually change the American way of life then they are going to keep on committing themselves to "martyrdom" while taking innocents with them. On the flip side, if terrorists see Americans standing united, brave and strong, and continuing their culture and lifestyle, then they are going to doubt their actions. For if driving a plane into a sky scraper or blowing oneself up on a crowded pedestrian bus isn't going to change the way a country runs, then what's the point?
Some argue though that terrorists bent on their ways will not be easily swayed by an American public that is undeterred by bombs and bodies. Fine -- then travel simply for the economic sense of it. If Americans stop traveling and hide in the safety of suburbia the economic backlash is unimaginable. The nation and the economy saw a little bit of if immediately following Sept. 11. People stayed home, plane and train seats went unfilled, and travel industry professionals lost their jobs. In short, the whole country suffered.
The tourism and travel industry have still not fully recovered from the impacts of one day. Now, we are in the middle of a war for an undeterminable length. But even if Sadaam surrendered tomorrow and fighting ceased, would educators still let their students out of the familiar parks and playgrounds of their hometown? It's doubtful.
Fairfax County officials, less then twenty miles away from Washington, D.C., are keeping kids out of the nation's capital for fear of "domestic terrorism." A strong threat of domestic terrorism has been ongoing for over two years and does not seem to be letting up anytime soon. It is hard enough to think of kids cooped up and hidden away for two days let alone two years. Moreover, the threat of "domestic terrorism" won't end with the downfall of an Iraqi dictatorship or the capture of Osama bin Laden. There is no saying how long terrorist cells will target America. The Cold War lasted for almost 50 years. The War against Terrorism could last just as long or longer. Are we, as a country, just going to live and breath in our bomb shelters waiting for the safe day when all the world is at peace again?
World peace, sadly enough, is a pipe dream. There will always been forces fighting for power, for land, for moral control. Americans, including young students, can not fritter away their lives hoping for a pipe dream that will probably never come.
Pessimism over the probability of world peace aside, it still stands to reason that the threat of terrorism is not even that strong compared to other life threatening events. The likely hood of being the victim of a terrorist attack is less then being in a car accident, developing cancer, or even being struck by lightning (www.stats.org).If schools plan to protect students from the minimal chance of a terrorist attack it would follow they need to prepare for other dangers as well. Instead of just keeping students away from "target areas," they can all just be sealed in plastic safety bubbles in order to live a satisfying, long life free of bomb blasts, car accident injuries and germs.
In times of unrest and war, Americans have two clear choices -- they can abruptly stop their lives and spend days, months, even years cowering in fear while the world drama plays out around them. Or they can defiantly stand, aware of the dangers around, and with their actions send a resounding message that Americans will not be beaten, not now, not temporarily, not ever. It can only be hoped that this great nation, including its grade schools, will choose to stand united and truly be the home of the brave.
(Maggie Bowden is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at mbowden@cavalierdaily.com)
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