Don't let fear control decisions

Tribune Opinion
February 21, 2007

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Terrorists beat us in only two ways: Temporarily or permanently. Their bile, bullets and blood-soaked bombs hurt, for sure. No country who went through Sept. 11, 2001, would ever deny that. But the carnage, while painful, is only temporary. Buildings get rebuilt. Wounds heal.

Terrorists' cowardly attacks serve their real purpose only if we let them. If we, say, let the fear the attacks are designed to provoke rule our lives.

Just like a week ago, Valentine's Day, in Windsor.

A rumor about a school shooting at Windsor High School infected the town, and that led to 210 student absences.

The rumor that started two days before had originated on MySpace.com.

We know the stomach flu may have contributed to a few of those absences. But fear contributed to most of them.

Parents, in other words, let the terrorists win.

It may seem a stretch to compare those who hijack planes and fly into buildings with idiots spreading rumors about a school shooting on a popular and somewhat goofy Web site. But terrorism runs in all forms. It's no stretch to call a school shooting the act of a terrorist, and therefore it's not that far of a stretch to call those who spread rumors about them terrorists as well. After all, the end result was the same. People were afraid.

We don't want to be too hard on the parents in this case. School shootings make anyone's blood run cold, probably no more than residents of Colorado, who will never forget Columbine. After all, it's just one day out of school in an attempt to play it safe.

But we don't want to be too easy on them either. Parents disrupted a day of school and took a day of education out of their children's lives, because of a rumor.

They gave into fear.

They let the terrorists win.

The good news here is that the victory is not permanent. It can be, certainly, if we continue to cower to threats, rumors and evil whispers.

But instead of cowering, maybe next time we laugh at rumors that start on Web sites that showcase bands, friendships and crazy photos more than valid rumors of bloodbaths.

Maybe next time we refuse to give in to the fear that fuels terrorism.

Maybe next time we're the ones who win.