We live in difficult times. I, for one, have never before felt threatened by terrorism. I was four-years-old and living in London on 9/11. I have blurry images of the towers coming crumbling down on our tiny kitchen TV. I recall that famous news clip being played again and again. However, unlike many of my classmates, I don’t remember leaving pre-school in a fearful rush. Although I held an American passport, I didn’t feel as if my home was under-attack. I have no family who were in those towers that day. For these things I’m thankful.
During the London bombings of 2005, when 52 innocent people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured after al-Qaeda detonated bombs on buses and in the subway, I was certainly more aware of the danger. My godmother did grab me hurriedly from the school cafeteria. We got pizza at a chain near my house instead.
An adult family friend recounted to my brother and I, the next day, her battle to get anywhere in a city embroiled in chaos. Cell phone service was all tied up by people desperately calling relatives. Nevertheless, to nine-year-old Percy, the whole affair didn’t feel real. I didn’t understand. I’m sure my overwhelming emotion that day was a selfish contentment caused by a day off from school.
This time it’s different. These despicable people have threatened my new home town and I’m fully aware. I’ve gotten messages from my father telling me to be careful. "Keep your head down," he warned over email. A campus safety announcement appeared in our inboxes to tell us that the university is "in close contact with the FBI." We all watched the video of a the Daesh jihadists vowing to "strike America in its stronghold, Washington, D.C." These caricatures of insane extremists are trying to plant the seed of fear. Don't give them the satisfaction.
Let’s talk about their name. Politicians and news outlets worldwide are switching from using ISIS or ISIL to Daesh. Effectively the name means exactly the same thing, but the terrorists despise the alternative name. Daesh is an acronym of Dawlat al-Islamiyah f’al-Iraq w Belaad al-Sham, which in Arabic effectively means the same thing as ISIS does. However, Arabic is not a language that commonly uses acronyms and so the word created sounds comical. Furthermore, Daesh sounds startlingly similar to the Arabic word ‘dais’ meaning something that crushes. Let’s not afford them the legitimization of calling them a state. Let’s stop belittling the Muslim world by labeling these murderers as true members of Islam.
This threat against Washington, D.C. comes as thousands of students are finalizing their travel plans for Thanksgiving. Getting on a train or plane right now might feel like the most foolish choice one could make. But you should do it. You’re still more likely to hurt yourself in the car to Union Station than in an attack. Don’t be afraid. Don’t change your plans. Go home and spend the holiday with your families. Of course continue to be vigilant, but remember that producing fear is their goal -- don’t give in. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show your defiance. It’s one of the most American times of the year, so don’t let them negate that.
Celebrate the beginnings of this country. Keep doing what you always do. Don’t let the fear cripple you. Don’t let them win.
