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| No | 51% | 394 votes | Total: 773 votes | |
| Yes | 49% | 379 votes |
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Add to FavoritesThere are those who wonder if Muslim extremism has damaged world tourism irrevocably. To those, I would say - NAY! Not so!
'Tis not the Muslim extremism has damaged world tourism, but 'tis the spineless lack of response to the terrorism that has damaged world tourism... perhaps irrevocably. (Can't we even call terrorism what it is without downgrading it to "extremism"?)
I can remember going to New York City in the mid-1970's, and what a wretched state Times Square was in. I suppose it might have been said at the time that "criminal and sleaze-ball extremism" had damaged NYC tourism irrevocably.
But it wasn't the crime, it wasn't the sleaze; it was the apathy. The Nay-sayers.
The poker game is over when the player who believes they are playing with the weakest hand folds, and the fight is often over when the pugilist who thinks they have less stamina then their opponent quits.
Rudy Giuliani did not have that defeatist attitude when he became the mayor of NYC. Times Square is now a safe haven even for families with young children! Disney now produces family musicals within the same block that porn shops and druggies prospered decades ago.
JFK did not have that defeatist attitude during the Cuban missile crisis, and Dubya did not blink during the liberation of Iraq. Qaddafi did not fold his hand and disarm Libya because he felt the US was weak, he gave up because of the strength President Bush demonstrated in Iraq.
When we allow the choir masters to lead us in a rousing repetitive chorus of "Boo-hoo! there's nothing we can do except appease our predators!" then Muslim extremism has all the incentive it needs to press forward.
When we allow the nay saying nabobs of negativity to chart the course of our nation's history, we forget the advice of Winston Churchill who cautioned: "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." [http://www.winstonc hurchill.org/i4a/pag es/index.cfm?pageid= 423]
Soon, Americans WON'T be worried about the effects of Muslim "extremism" affecting tourism abroad if the appeasers continue to sing their songs of defeat, because the Americans will be too darn busy worrying about Muslim Terrorism right here in River City.
In fact, with a nod of appreciation to Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man", I believe the song we'll be singing before too long might sound an awful lot like this:
Well, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do now wish to acknowledge
Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a Muslim Mosque in your community...
...Terrorism, oh we got terrorism,
Right here in River City!
With a capital "T"
That rhymes with "D"
And that stands defeat.
And in the meantime, all the appeasement choir masters will be marching around with imaginary guns, wearing imaginary uniforms, because they will have given up the right to protect themselves by the time the invasion is complete.
Learn more about this author, Chris Kling.
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Yes
People who travel to the different corners of the world are a little more concerned about travel these days. These heighten problems have people on edge but over all will not keep people at home. I only travel when I have to and I will drive if it is possible. To say I would not fly to Germany or Bangkok Or Japan, I could not say. I would be uncomfortable and most likely it would upset my trip but I would take the risk and that is why people travel.
One thing is for sure about Muslim extremism you can travel scared or can stay at home here in the United States and still have worry. These world problems are most definitely every where and I guess it is just a frame of mind about our security, that I would be Leary of flying in to a country like Saudi Arabia. The reasons are because of such high tensions in that region of the world. Thailand would not be any better and they have cells of Muslim extremist in their country as well.
I would say that most people exposed to any violent extremism any where or any time would have an adverse affect on any traveler. Kidnapping, hostage taking for political leverage are some of the things people think about most before they travel. Can any one blame a person today for not wanting to travel abroad. We have enough problems here in the United States to keep us busy and why would anyone want to go in to the fire of terrorism is beyond me. In this day and age we are confronted with conflict on a daily basis. I would say to the fact of it being irrevocably terminal because of Muslim extremism that Muslim extremism will have no adverse affects on travel before or after.
People will stand strong in the face of Muslim extremism because no one likes to give up the civil liberties when it comes to traveling abroad. The effects of terrorism abroad could see people put into difficult situations as businesses and tourism suffer. Through all the conflict, people will still risk traveling to different counties, no matter the consequences it may bring. People will just be more alert and cautious when they do travel.
People that love to travel can not live their lives with their heads buried in the sand. Even if it means losing their life, people will still put their lives on the line for travel. It is the livelihood of all people to visit and experience what the world has to offer. Muslim extremism may have damaged tourism some but not enough to frighten people into staying home. If terrorism frightens people to the point they will not travel, then terrorism has won the battle.
Learn more about this author, Rex Coker.
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