Terrorism Envy
I have met small-town officials all over the country who insist their town is a terrorist target. “We have an interstate highway here,” they say, with a hard, ominous stare. “And an airport.” For a TIME story on why Wyoming gets more homeland security cash per capita than any other place, I listened to a room full of 22 nice, well-meaning Casper fire fighters say they would feel insulted by any suggestion that Casper (pop. 50,000) should get less homeland-security money. “No one can say Casper can’t be a terrorist target,” fire fighter Roy Buck told me.
So is being a terrorist target now part of the American dream? I’ve never been 100% sure if people are saying these things because they really believe it...or because they want the federal money that comes with high-risk status. But this USA Today story confirms that a few officials really, truly believe it. Some villages you’ve never heard of (West Baraboo, Wisc., pop. 1,248) are using their own residents’ money to pay for terrorism insurance to protect their water towers and police stations from the enemy.
Here’s the thing: yes, a rural attack by international terrorists would be frightening for Americans, and in that sense, it would be psychologically effective. But Americans are not the audience for groups like al Qaeda. Muslims around the world are the target demo, and they don’t get fired up about West Baraboo. (Sorry, I know this is hard to hear...) But major targets for these kinds of groups will almost certainly be places that people who have never been to America can effortlessly visualize: places like New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles.
But this yearning to be part of the action is actually really interesting. When did the threat of random violence against civilians become a badge of honor? How did vulnerability get confused with civic pride? Consider what West Baraboo village clerk Mary Klingenmeyer is saying when she tells USA Today: “We had quite a few outlying areas laughing at us,” Klingenmeyer said [about the decision to adopt terrorism insurance]. “Maybe we’ll have the last laugh.”
The last laugh? After your village has been attacked by terrorists, you’ll have the last laugh? Really? I’m guessing it wouldn’t actually be so supremely gratifying. Except for the terrorists, of course. Although it appears that in West Baraboo, at least, they have already won.
MJ Wilson said on June 10, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Thank you for pointing out the ignorance that is causing valuable resources in fighting terrorism to be squandered on places that don’t need it. When will people realize that the purpose of terrorism is to get people to over react and to be scared. I just received Random Houses invitation to review your book for my blog and I look forward to reading it soon.
Gregory Fegel said on June 12, 2008 at 4:49 am
If you really want to fight Terrorism, you need to fight the US government and its allies in industry and the media, because officials in the White House, Pentagon, NORAD, CIA, FBI, FEMA, Secret Service, the airline industry, and the mainstream media planned and perpetrated the 9/11 attacks.
James Mannes said on June 13, 2008 at 12:23 am
Terrorism sure seems to reveal some significant shortcomings in our emotional lives.
Eric Holdeman said on June 15, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I actually know where Baraboo Wisconsin is, right near the Wisconsin Dells, the Dairyland’s recreation center. But, I’ll agree with Amanda--especially the “critical infrastructure” is probably not at risk, other than from natural hazards, which they have had lots of in recent weeks.
Jonas Eriksson said on June 19, 2008 at 7:09 am
This would be a funny story if it wasn’t so sad....
America is in parts coming to a complete standstill and will just be avoided by more and more tourists. Be it for the incredible slow and inefficient “Homeland Security” in Airports such as LAX, where people IN TRANSIT for goodness sake have to cue for THREE hours to get through the silly fingerprint-passport scan procedure (I don’t mind giving them these details, all cool with me, but why does it take ages?), get your bags and re-check them manually and then you have to race like crazy to catch you connection to London… it’s insane.
And I’ve been to Wyoming and a few other places around the world. I do NOT think Jackson Hole is at risk of being a terrorist target - LOL!!
OMG… it boggles the mind what you’re up to over there sometimes…
God bless you.
Jonas Eriksson said on June 19, 2008 at 7:12 am
Sorry for the typo: “have to queue” obviously. And I forgot the second reason why tourists stay clear in increasing numbers - the insanity of the terrorism protection in some areas. I’d love to take more photographs in NYC, but apparently it is becoming more an more “forbidden” because they think you could be using this for something evil… jeez. If you want to hide your beautiful landmarks, perhaps start by blocking Google Earth. Just like China…