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I am going to Europe.
They want us to be terrorized. If Americans start to cower behind oceans and a wall, the bad guys win.
If they take away our freedom to travel, the bad guys win.
If the bombings in Europe destroy the continent’s tourism industry, the bad guys win.
People are right to be scared, we must be more proactive about soft targets, including “front of the house airport security”—but we must not let fear change us, or stop us from traveling.
Every single act of terrorism must be responded to with an affirmation of defiance that the terrorists will not succeed.
We must stand in solidarity with the people of Europe and that we cannot be divided by fanatics who kill innocent civilians.
Americans should show ISIS that however many of us they strike, they will not change our way of life.
Some of our customers have canceled their trips to Europe. Others have called nervously and wanted to discuss travel insurance. This is Ok. Some airlines are offering to rebook flights with no penalties.
But what I tell passengers is, look at the odds: the real risk of death from terrorism is infinitesimal.
As President Obama is fond of telling his staff, more Americans will be killed in a bathtub accident (464) this year than have ever been killed by terrorists in Europe.
“The whole premise of terrorism is to try to disrupt people’s ordinary lives,” Obama said about the attacks. He was traveling in Cuba when the attacks in Brussels happened. The symbolism of Obama addressing the world on from such a historically loaded backdrop as Cuba should not be lost on us: this is a time to be boldly taking down barriers, not putting up walls.
We must put these attacks in perspective and not let the hysteria that follows be used to manipulate voters.
Americans should not curtail their plans to go to Europe. The continent needs us now, more than ever.
Their tourism industry has taken an immediate hit. Since the bombings in Brussels, hotel occupancy has dropped to 67% in Paris, and 58% in London.
April in Paris is wonderful. Sounds like a great time to travel to me. Empty hotels mean no crowds. I’ll get reservations at the best restaurants, and travel prices are dirt cheap.
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Contact: Blake Fleetwood, CEO of Cook Travel
specializing in discount travel to overseas destinations
email: blake@cooktravel.net
Hello Blake,
Fear of terrorism aside – I hopped on a plane 2 weeks after 9/11 to defy terrorism. I know of what you speak and I live it. There are other threats to our wellbeing and that is the subtle invasion of China by commerce, not warfare.
I live in Vancouver Canada, once a magnificent oasis of natural beauty. With the financial invasion of China mid nineties, and the complicity of politicians, every one but Ethical Green Party politicians , every little Canadian nuance has vanished beneath 18 hours of construction five to six days a week, construction standards and materials at rock bottom – certainly not to B.C. codes, while prices remain stupidly high. Nothing can or will be done. Communism has won. How amusing. They beat quasi Democracy by buying our debt and politicians.
Worse, First Nations are still being bullied into submission, dirty water, no housing, children still scooped from parents, no sovereignty on the horizon, Indian Agents on reservations interfering politically. Malaysian, China and U.S. corporations manipulate the desperate Bands into forfeiting natural resources to afford life. The Canadian government is directly responsible for selling out to Frackers, for natural gas, Bitumen for US refining. LNG and Trudeau’s pipeline purchase from a Texas oil corporation with taxpayers’ money against the real owners of B.C. land – First Nations without treaties!!! as well as farmers, ranchers, and other Canadian constituents. Only Alberta and investors in the Industry support this climatic death knoll. Reconciliation with our Indigenous peoples is a chimera. Newspapers will never print truth. FYI.
My country is no longer a country for women or intelligent, ethical beings…. dirty money and foreign governments have usurped our freedoms. In an effort to save my life, I’m bound for Europe one way from Vancouver Canada to Paris, or Malaga.
Terrorism covers a wide range of machinations these days. Readership should not be fooled by shiny glossy brochures of travel companies. There is little truth there.