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The Jewish Voice and Opinion
T
September 2011
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Kol Ami: Are We Safer?
en years ago, on September 11, 2001, the world as we knew it shifted. Although there had been a previous attack on the World Trade Center and Islamist terrorism was hardly an unknown phenomenon, 9-11 shook all Americans to the core. No longer would we walk friends and family virtually up to the tarmac when they left from the airport. No longer would we question taking our shoes off or object to a pat-down before boarding. If there is an Islamist legacy in the US, it is the image of a middle-aged grandmother holding her arms out so that an inspector at the airport can check to see that she has no weapons. In light of the new technology and procedures, the question we asked members of various shul lists this month was: Is the US safer now than it was before 9-11? Y
I think there is a greater awareness now of the potential for terrorist attacks, but I’m not convinced that the US is truly safer. There are so many public places that are susceptible to attack, and it doesn’t seem as if there are any measures taken to prevent this. Michelle Gross West Orange, NJ
I don’t think America is any safer now than before 9/11. Even though we have increased security measures, we seem to be in a reactive mode, adding security measures only after an incident occurs, to prevent it from happening again. There are still no real security mea-
Yes, the US is much safer now than it was on the original 9/11. Bin Laden s dead; his organization is crumbling; all US public institutions such as airlines, trains, ships, cargo vessels, etc. undergo vigorous scanning and detailed monitoring. The customs service has
Avi Fried, Teaneck, NJ
Darryl Yoblick South Edison, NJ
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Yes, and no. I feel safer because we know who and what we are working against. There are more video cameras and security. But we waste too much time checking grandmothers of Anglo descent instead of those who really do fit the profile of a terrorist, thus allowing them to get through checkpoints. Lisa Silvey Highland Park NJ