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Can't shake dread of terrorism
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Anonymous
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We live in DC, my husband works three blocks from the White House, and for years now I just can't shake my fear of terrorism. It is a low-level constant gnawing dread. I feel like everyone here lives in denial about the issue. For example, a respected bi-partisan commission recently issued a report saying that the likelihood of a nuclear or biological attack in the U.S. in the next 5 years is greater than 50%. That seems like astonishingly high odds, yet people don't seem concerned, even though it's a no-brainer that the attack would probably be in DC.
I actually think seriously and often about actually moving to get away from this area, yet every time I think seriously about it, I am very reluctant because we've lived here so long and our jobs/friends/lives are here, so where would we go and what would we do? Then I think of my cousin's MIL, who is a Holocaust survivor who was a teenager/young woman during that era. I remember one time having a conversation with her in which she said, in a nutshell, that all the signs were there of the danger but that most Jews were resistant to leave because their lives were there and it seemed too difficult and overwhelming to move--literally, exactly the same reasons that I am now resistant to moving as well. I feel like that--like all the signs are there, but we will probably suffer anyway because we aren't heeding. How do you all cope with this issue? Are you in denial?  Any advice for me? Thanks in advance.
(BTW, I'm not so much worried about smaller attacks of the car bomb variety, because I think the odds of suffering from one of those is very small. I'm more concerned with the horrific catastrophic attack variety--not the kind that will kill us all instantly, LOL, because then we wouldn't suffer, but the Hiroshima-type attack where there will be unimaginable suffering and life as we know it will be over in DC, and and where I couldn't protect my children, etc.) |
Anonymous
| I figure when it's my time to go, it's my time to go, and there's nothing I can do about it. |
Anonymous
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I got the hell out of DC in 2004, because I had a baby. I was just blocks from the White House on 9/11 and to this day, I am convinced many of us owe our lives to the passengers who fought and took their plane down in PA instead of DC.
Get out while you can. |
Anonymous
| 22:06 here, besides if you just move to the MD or VA burbs, you don't have to give up your life. Just drive a little longer for visits. Worth it. |
Anonymous
Hell, I think we owe our democracy to them,too. What if that plane had crashed into the Capitol? Bush might have declared martial law. |
Anonymous
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I don't think about a Hiroshima style bomb but I do ride the last car on the metro train during morning rush hour in order to increase my chances of survival in case of a suicide bomber.
If you were a suicide bomber, would you get on the last car of the train, decreasing your chances of killing as many people as possible? They didn't in London. They rode the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cars of the three six-car trains that they bombed. |
Anonymous
OP again. When I said we live in DC, I was referring to the general area--technically, we live in Chevy Chase, but VERY close to the city line. (And DH works three blocks from the White House.) Curious, when you suggest the suburbs, do you mean the far-out ones? Surely you don't mean Chevy Chase/Bethesda/Arlington, do you? How would those be safer? |
Anonymous
| I grew up around here, and i remember finding our house on one of those concentric maps that showed what levels of destruction there would be if 'the bomb' went off in DC. I mean, that fear and dread was very real. Now all these years later, here we still are. Relax. We don't know what our futures hold. |
Anonymous
Yeah, the destruction would go pretty far out..... |
Anonymous
| If you're truly concerned you should seriously look into moving to someplace where the threat of terrorism isn't so great. Then you won't be worried as much. There will be other things to worry about of course. Maybe someplace like Iowa. You will adjust and make new friends. |
Anonymous
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OP again--okay, these replies are not helping at all! They are mostly just reinforcing that we should move away. (And indeed, we probably should.) Anyone want to share their strategies for living here without the constant dread?
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Anonymous
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in CC or Arlington, maybe you would be lucky to go in the intial round....versus suffering in the outer suburbs from the impact.
We should not be complacent....but you can't run from everything. That is truly how the terrorists win. Be brave. Enjoy each day of your life...don't let the joy be eatern by worry. And if you are still consumed....make a change and a life you can be comfortable with. |
Anonymous
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OP - while your fear is a common concern, you have to put it into context.
Do you feel the same dread or feel your life is in danger when driving, crossing the street (especially in front of metro buses ), eating a peanut butter sandwich (especially with a salmonella outbreak from PB), etc.
This country has really stepped up when it comes to fighting the bad guys, hec, a gizillion $$ went into creating an entire new agency - homeland security - for that sole purpose. And the airports - TSA is now a household word. I'm not trying to down-play your fears, for that is a personal feeling, but just wanted to put things in a different perspective for you. ...and besides, a lot of the potential plots get foiled and stopped before they materialize. You just never hear about in the news b/c it is still considered top secret and not available to the media. |
Anonymous
| Try not to think about it too much. There are pros and cons to living anywhere. For example, people live in quake prone CA despite the fact that the big one could happen at any time. |
Anonymous
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OP - I find that information and preparation are the keys to avoid being overly worried.
If a nuclear bomb hits downtown DC, and you are there, there really isn't much you can do. That's a fact, and if you are tormented by the thought, then leaving makes sense. But.... the fact is, MOST people who are not under a direct hit will not die in such a blast... but will want to stay in place for a while until the radioactive fallout dissipates -- the worst will be over in about 2 days. Being prepared to shelter in place for AT LEAST that long is a prudent course of action. And once you prepare, you can stop worrying about it so much. Read this article in an EXCELLENT series by David Shenk in Slate a while back called the Survivalist. It comes in different sections -- here's Part II: How to Survive a Nuclear Bomb. http://www.slate.com/id/2148772/entry/2148774 There are some great links in his article; among them I suggest you take a look at this one: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51648
There are things any family can do to protect themselves from the after effects of a nuclear blast, and the preparation will be good for other emergencies as well -- simple things like being sure you have food and water in your home so you can stay at home for a period of time and avoid the fallout; at least 2 weeks' worth of basic supplies for your family is something everyone should have. For even more detailed information about surviving a nuclear blast, check this out: http://www.ki4u.com/guide.htm |