Panic in Perspective, ‘Getting Back to Normal’

Where are the media when you need them? We keep hearing of potential terror attacks, but who puts it in perspective? If one were to say (correctly) that 100 people will be killed tomorrow and each and every day thereafter in auto accidents, would everyone be thrown into a panic, afraid to venture out of the house? Of course not! There are campaigns to increase road safety, improve roads, etc., while on the individual level, normal precautions are taken to a reasonable degree and without panic.

With respect to terror attacks, there are and should be measures instituted to guard against them. The likelihood of any specific person (you or me) being a victim of such action, even the most atrocious imaginable, in this huge and great country of ours is far less than the danger from lightning, auto accident, even injury in a bathtub.

So what are we worrying everyone for? Let each of us just go about living a normal life and support the war effort.

Sidney Brounstein

Redlands

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Re John Balzar’s “ ‘Full of Fear’? Pish!” Commentary, Oct. 10: The amazing thing about Americans is that in times of crisis we can rise up and give support where needed, bring the wrongdoers to justice and still go about our normal business without even being fazed. We trust in our government and military for protection. To think that Osama bin Laden actually thought he struck fear in our hearts is ludicrous. Sure, we’re scared just a little bit, but we won’t let him interfere with our way of life.

As a student at Cal State Northridge, I saw my peers grieve for the victims of the attack. I saw a lot of tears, anger and frustration, but most of all I saw togetherness. If anything, we’re full of strength.

Meliza Cabaltera

Northridge

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Balzar writes, “We tell ourselves to put aside the simplicity of stereotypes.” He then launches into a doozy of a stereotype. Not all people who stay behind are meek; in fact, many who refuse to flee in the face of crisis are the epitome of bravery and patriotism. And not all people who have come to America are daring; in fact, most of the first settlers were religious outcasts who were much closer to the definition of meek than daring.

I wonder if the same John Balzar penned the columns of Oct. 3 and Oct. 10. In the former, he challenged his readers to change themselves for the better, to forgo greed, narcissism and hedonism. But in the latter, he celebrates the absence of change. He revels in the fact that the malls are crowded with people. Yet if these people had heeded his advice to volunteer, knit, garden, do crafts or write poetry, they wouldn’t be in the shopping plaza, would they?

So I’m confused. On the one hand, Balzar says “our values became trivialized” (Oct. 3), while on the other hand he exults (or at least takes comfort) in the dissonant sights and sounds that tell him life is back to normal. Will the real John Balzar please stand up?

Randy K. Higa

Los Angeles