Does the terrorism and threats in Spain cause you to rethink you travel plans?

[4 cruisers]

mafig, I do see your point there. But once again, just as in France, there is a large faction of Spainish people who support America and didn't vote their particular ruling party in. In knowing that much of the sentiment of the people is still supportive of Americans, I will travel to both places. But then, I would travel to Turkey too if we had the money and the time this trip! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] Your point IS well taken, though.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;28;19;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]
...until our August 28, 2004 Splendour of the Seas

[que sarah sarah]

You are talking terrorism ,
Have a look at where I live !!!.Our family have lived with terrorism all our lives ,children grew up with bullets and bombs . Our eldest son served as an officer in the British army and served 2 terms at home .
Terrior is stoping you having the freedom to do what you want in life and if you give in THEY have won .

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<marquee behaviour=alternate>till we sail Brilliance of the Seas Greek Isles etc
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<marquee behaviour=alternate>till we sail Brilliance of the Seas Venice etc
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[CAPinBoynton]

In June of last year we did the Mediterranean cruise on the Brilliance. Royal Caribbean decided to cancel Ephesus, Turkey due to security. We were disappointed, but knew that they had our safety as their priority. They keep abreast of the very latest news, and they will do what they feel is best. You can expect things to heat up in Iraq even more, the closer we come to time for their elections. Should this keep you home? In my opinion, no. Terrorist can hit a cruise ship in the Caribbean just as easily as they can in the Mediterranean.

What makes you think you are any safer just because you are in the U.S.? My husband’s office is in the same area as the AMI building where the man died from the anthrax, yet my husband still goes to work every day. Two of the hijackers lived less than ½ mile from where we lived at one time. When I go to Costco, I pass right by one of the small airports where the terrorists trained, etc., etc. We can’t isolate ourselves from this problem any more, so we must continue to live our lives.

My husband and I are going to Europe this summer. We are even flying home on July 4, from a London airport! Did I give that a second thought? You bet I did, but I’m going anyway. Besides, if I didn’t continue to live my life, my son would probably disown me. He is presently in downtown Baghdad as a proud member of the United States Army. [img]http://www.thepreismans.com/flag.gif[/img]

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[Lynnees]

We are booked on the Brilliance in June and we will not be cancelling. The only hesitation was the part where we were going to take a train from Paris to Barcelona. We contemplating cancelling that and flying to Barcelona. However, we have gone back to our original plans and I've bought the train tickets.

What will be will be. We are not Americans but I suppose that doesn't make much difference.

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[Ms Jo UK]

I am with Sarah Cather on this one. I grew up in an England where bombs were regularly going off in bars, and shopping malls. We did not just go to school/work and then home to stay indoors we lived our lives going about our everyday business. USA has had its own home grown bombers too, Spain has ETA which has been very active in spanish top vacation resorts in the last few years with fatalities. Lots of countries have their own home grown terrorists with political differences on top of the threat of international terrorism. If you give in the terrorists win and we have surrendered.

I too would not at this time take a holiday in Iraq for obvious reasons. However, for those of you who feel safer to visit the UK rather than Spain, we in the UK are told quite openly by our government it is not 'if we suffer' an attack but 'when' - it will happen here too.

You all must always do what you personally feel is right for yourselves, but try not to sit frightening youselves out of something you have dreamed of doing.

Just my thoughts and no offence meant to anyone.

Until we sail explorer
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[mafig]

Al-Quada has threatened Spain with (paraphrasing here) turning the country red with fire and blood unless they give in to certain demands. If the government of Spain told them to "pound salt" I would have no problem going to Spain because I would feel the government of Spain had the backbone to protect its American tourists -- as I feel the UK does. However, if they intend to give in to the terrorists, then I feel I, as an American, would easily be unprotected by the Spanish government in the event of singling out of Americans.

For instance, telling the Spanish governmment to turn over Americans on a train, plane or hotel.

Just my thoughts.... just today ..... tomorrow I may feel differently.

[willco]

I grew up on the mean streets of LA. and I ran home from school many times fearing various threats.

When I lived in NY, I planned a visit to Guatamala. A government warning said that 2 Americans had been killed there 2 years prior to my trip, so it was supposed to be "dangerous". No government warning about the 6 people killed in NY the night before.

Since graduation from HS some 30 plus years ago, I have been to most parts of the world.

My answer, no, I plan to keep traveling. Going to Egypt this fall.

[xpcdoojk]

Amen, willco!

I haven't had life experiences anywhere close to yours, but I share you point of view!

jc

[4 cruisers]

In general, we travelers are a hardy lot, aren't we? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]!!!!! Carol, bless your son. We appreciate him and all the others fighting for our freedom and safety.

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...until our August 28, 2004 Splendour of the Seas

[the_psycho]

I'm of the school that says that when we alter our daily lives out of fear, that the goal of the terrorist has been realized, and he wins. Terrorism isn't about innocent people: they are simply the means to an end. If a people believe that their government cannot protect them, and as a result they change their day to day activities, then yes, terrorists do win.

I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening. I've got my smallpox vaccine, and will be the first on in (and the last one out) in the event of a biological attack. I will not alter my vacation plans becuase one country has an upswell of activity, and will go where I want to go.

I know that the event that everyone thinks of when the US and terrorism in metioned is the twin towers in NYC and the Pentagon on September 11, but I'd like to remind everyone of a bombing that took place a little closer to home for most of us.

On April 19, 1995, at about 9:00 in the morning, a massive fuel-oil bomb exploded in downtown Oklahoma City, killing 168 men, women, and little children. On April 20, I was in a Red Cross tent 500 yards from groud zero, making meals for rescuers.

In the years that have followed, I have met people involved in every aspect of that tragedy. I know firefighters and members of the USRs that were the first in and the last out of the rubble. Last week, I met the man who had the onerous task of legally identifying each one of the 168 bodies. He remembers every name. Most importantly, I know a former Marine Gunnery Sergeant who walked out of his office at 8:58 and got into an elevator to go downstairs to meet with a recruit. Every other person in his office was killed.

This man is one of the bravest people I have ever met. He recognized PTSD, sought treatment when others didn't know what to do. He retired from the Marine Corps, and travels the country, lecturing on terrorism and how to keep the terrorists from winning. His formula is simple. Go to work. Go to the gym. Go to football games, on summer beach vacations, winter ski vacations, and travel to other countries. Be smart, but don't let the actions of an irrational few keep you from experiencing life for yourself. When you stop that, then the terrorists win.

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<color=#8b0000>until Serenade of the Seas Spring Break 2004!!

[RonnieS]

In 2003 Chicago had 600 homocides, making it the murder capital of the U.S.A. So we kind of have our own local version of "terror". Yet we still go there to eat at great restaurants, see shows, etc. Am I aware of my surroundings? Sure, I'm not stupid. (well, some might differ). I just wouldn't walk down any dark alleys and yell "hey what are you punks doin over there"? So my advice is keep travelin' try to be smart.

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[bensjamin]

I would still go to Spain. I agree with those that say altering our daily life allows those to believe that the terrorists have already won.

There is danger everwhere. To me, being scared of traveling somewhere like Spain right now is like being afraid to fly. While people do have legitimate fears of flying, statistically, you are much more likely to die in the car ride to the airport than on the actual flight. So, while these terrorist attacks are awful tragedies, if every death was as well publicized as those in terrorist attacks, plane crashes, ect, people would be much more afraid of doing every day events.

For example, if every smoking death recieved as much news coverage as Jessica Lynch, do you think as many people would still smoke cigarrettes as they do today?

While I might be slightly nervous riding the Metro in Madrid right now, I still would do it, as the possiblities of something bad happening to me exist everywhere.