Americans Mostly Shrug Off Terror Alerts

Associated Press ^ | 12/22/03

[TexKat]

Americans Mostly Shrug Off Terror Warnings As Security Tightens at Nation's Airports, Bridges

Dec. 22 — Travelers encountered tighter security at the nation's airports, train stations, bridges and highways Monday morning, a day after the government raised the national threat level and said attacks were possible during the holidays.

On Sunday, the federal government raised the national terror-attack warning to "Code Orange," its second-highest level, following warnings that al-Qaida may be plotting attacks against the United States during the holidays. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said threat indicators are "perhaps greater now than at any point" since Sept. 11.

[TexKat]

Did you get a call from the Associated Press or from ABC asking if you were shrugging or not?

We like to give the appearance that we are shrugging.

I've got their shruffing rite cher.

[TexKat]

Shrugging ping

[Dallas59]

[Grampa Dave]

Shrugging in effect here!

[dead]

What else are you going to do? Go buy more duct tape?

[No Blue States]

Shrugger here.
It beats the fear the enemy wants to cause.

[MEG33]

Perhaps the term shrugging isn't as appropriate as saying: We are not cowering behind a desk,we are still flying,going to work,shopping.

We accept the inconvenience.We pray we don't get hit,pray for those who went through 911 and become more anxious than those who didn't.

We know it's possible to be hit,yet we don't let the possibility prevent us from living our lives.

[dead]

[Eva]

Shrugging is just about what we are supposed to do, but to also be more alert as we go about our daily lives. The rest is up to the professionals. There have been special alerts sent out to all types of industries and civil entities that will be on heightened alert and who will not be on vacation while we celebrate our holiday in peace (hopefully).

My husband received a call on his cell phone at 2AM this morning, calling for a response that he had recieved the heightened alert. Thank goodness the phone was not in our bedroom.

[Dallas59]

[af_vet_rr]

Shrugging here as well, no point in letting members of the "religion of peace" try to affect our own religious practices.

[bandleader]

What is it that Alfred E.Newman says?Isn't it"What,Me Worry"??I think that these RATs will strike us again.You simply can't cover all the bases but "W" will KICK THEIR A**"Big Time"!!!!!!!!!

[Huck]

That's basically it. My wife and I went to a party at my sister's place in Manhattan this weekend. What are we supposed to do? Put life on hold until someone declares the last terrorist caught and killed? But no, I don't think we shrug either. We prevail.

[baseballmom]

No shrugging here. We pray, we watch and listen, and go about our lives.

[MEG33]

Yes,I like that"We prevail".

[MattAMiller]

Shrugging? That's probably not the right word but I'm not panicked. I can take Tom Ridge at his word when he says there are indications of a forthcoming attack and keep myself together at the same time.

[curmudgeonII]

What the Sam Hill does the the government want us to do?

When in worry, or in doubt,
Run around, scream and shout.

[BlessedAmerican]

I don't know if I am shrugging but I am not anxiety laden with this new rise in the alert status. I AM confident in all those homeland heroes who have planned, trained and are now executing their plans to protect me and my family. May God bless each one! Merry Christmas...

[livius]

Tom Ridge was on Rush today and said, essentially, that shrugging is just what we are supposed to do, although a little increased vigilance is certainly welcome and people should develop personal emergency (particularly family communication) plans.

On the other hand, people in law enforcement and emergency services have now developed very specific plans of what to do when the threat level is elevated, and they are following these plans. My daughter is a police officer, and she assures me that this is not just soothing talk, but that security and emergency services actually do increase and change their activities to reflect the threat levels.

So, as far as I'm concerned, Merry Christmas to all, and it's okay to just keep on shrugging!

[FITZ]

What terror alert?