BF2S Forums Has Terrorism affected you?

I must admit, when I'm in an airport I do feel a little on edge, and do give Arabs a sideways glance.

Terrorism has not and will not change my lifestyle one iota. I come from Co. Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Back in the 80s, when the exchange rate was favourable, my family would often go through to Derry City in Northern Ireland to shop. You eventually get used to being harassed by the security forces, people running into shopping centres with shotguns, bombs going off, spontaneous riots. You just get the fuck on with your life because it's beyond your control. I went to Palestine, Israel and Jordan as an independent traveller to witness the middle east first hand without fear, in full knowledge that I would have to be extremely unlucky for something bad to happen to me. I am going to Istanbul at the end of October, despite recent bombings and shootings there. Terrorism will not change me because terrorism is as likely to adversely affect me as I am of winning the EuroMillions lottery.

Last edited by CameronPoe (2006-09-12 03:47:21)

I was born in 1976 the year the troubles kicked off again in Earnest Northern Ireland. They are still winding down and I am about to turn 30. So yes I have been effected by Terrorism. Prity much everything in Northern Ireland Life was dictated to by terrorist and their activities and the security forces efforts to counter them up until a few years ago. Ive been one of the first on the since when 2 police men were blown up by the IRA in the car park behind were I used to work. I can still see the bodies with fire coming out of their eye sockets. The guy who planted the bomb is now my sisters next door neighbor. Everyone from this country has some stories to tell on terror. My father was working on a building site and seen 2 guys hide in a shed which was promptly surrounded and filled with bullets. A chopper flew in and lifted the black opps guys and the body and the shed was set on fire. This incident didn't even reach the news. The terrorists did some bad things but some of the "tactics" used by the security forces were equally as bad. It is coming to light now that the Police gave information to Loyalist terrorist on potential targets, particularly solicitors and legal Representatives, effectively sanctioning state murder. I could go on.............

Last edited by JahManRed (2006-09-12 03:59:53)

CameronPoe wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

Terrorism will not change me because terrorism is as likely to adversely affect me as I am of winning the EuroMillions lottery.

I wonder if Nick Berg thought that.

He was just incredibly unlucky. How many westerners in Iraq haven't had their heads cut off - thousands upon thousands I'll bet. He didn't do himself any favours by being in an ACTUAL warzone - he wasn't strolling down O'Connell St. when he got nabbed, let's face it.

It was actually a serious question I understand the odds. I was wondering if he really felt like he wasn't in harms way. Did he knowingly take the risk or was he oblivious to it.

Last edited by Kmarion (2006-09-12 04:04:04)

When the IRA was bombing London train stations in 1990, I had to evacuate from Paddington because of a suspect device.  Turned out to be a hoax but after Victoria station, can't be too careful.  Then when Leeds station got bombed in 1997, I missed it by being in a different part of the station - unusually they had targeted a signal box rather than the platforms, to cause disruption and inconvenience rather than casualties.  Still, that led to more suspect devices "found" in the city and more disruption.

Oh and my brother used to live in Belfast and work at Stormont in the late 1990s.  Nice city, nice people, mostly.  Except when they set up roadblocks and shoot "random" people.

The only thing that has really gotten under my skin is the daily threads about how bad the USA is in handling this situation. As if we are the leading cause of global war, strife. No country has given so much, sacrifised so many of it's citizens in hope to make the world a better place. And people constantly shit on us, our soldiers, government and fat chics. As if thier shit don't stink and has a history of perfect bliss.

How about people not just think about what affects themselves? Aside from the highly publicized 9/11 incidents, terrorism has affected many others. Then again, so has cancer and AIDS.

If it hasn't affected all these people could one assume that they feel safe? Almost protected?

On my end:
Increased security = more money.  I was involved with redesigning & upgrading some buildings to make them less apt to deliver chemical agents thru the a/c system.

It affects everyone...indirectly.  Arguably the taxes spent on deterring terrorism could be spent elsewhere, or saved.  So therefore the answer is yes - it hits the pocketbook.

my point is that to a large degree that individual ability to determine that is unavailable in the policies and proceedures now in place as a result of terrorism.  So while we may not as an individual seemingly do anything to perpetuate or support its' affects, we are a product and an element of the system which has been drastically altered as a function of terrorism.

EDIT: But I absolutely agree with the spirit of what you say.

Last edited by PuckMercury (2006-09-12 09:33:10)

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Marconius wrote:

If it affects you, then that means they've won and have accomplished the goal that they set out to do in the first place.  It's as simple as that.

Not really.. If one of your friends or family members were harmed by terrorism, it doesn't necessarily mean terrorists have won. Even if a flight is delayed by a bomb threat, it still doesn't mean they've won. If a little kid persists in making a fart noises in class to disrupt the teacher, it doesn't mean said kid won anything but detention.

If a kid farted in my class he won himself an ass whoopin.

Marconius wrote:

No, you don't understand...I remember a time when it took less than an hour to get on a plane, now you need to get to the airport nearly 3 hours in advance...

The extreme security measures, people raising concerns of "terrorism" at the drop of a hat, the ability to instill fear and shut down an entire transit system because someone accidentally left a Macy's bag on the train platform, the loss of civil liberties for our "protection," I could go on.  The point is, people are now inherently afraid, or are forced to be so by the Protectorates in power...

Ah, I see.