This week I embark on my first trip to Germany. I’ve traveled abroad many times (with one dogsledding trip being entirely alone) and I’m no stranger to the madhouse of international airport security, changing currency, and the general rush that precedes any international trip. I’m excited: I’ve been brushing up on my Deutsche for months, I’ve got my brand new all-terrain boots, I’m armed with my passport and favorite Harry Potter book, and the travel bug that has been lying dormant for quite sometime is finally buzzing happily around my head again.
Many of my friends are excited for me to go, and a few months ago the overwhelming consensus was that most of the people I told were “sooooo jealous” of me. However, this past November unfortunately heralded a series of Islamic extremist attacks in Europe, and the voices of support have turned into looks of consternation.
The expectation of my more conservative family members was for me to cancel my trip after the attacks. Over Thanksgiving and Christmas, I got the same question over and over again: “So are you still going?” Of course I’m still going, and let me tell you why.
Terrorists run on fear. Big shock right? If you can’t detect the sarcasm, and you really are shocked—you shouldn’t be. It is in the name: terror. The attacks, the brutal videos, the absolute atrocities carried out by these evil people (disgracing the name of a beautiful culture and religion) are all intended to do one thing: scare. They know that fear creates chaos, and these groups need chaos to carry out their goals.
At this point in my life, the best I can do to fight terrorism is to not let them control my world. I’m taking away their greatest weapon. Without fear, the extremists have nothing.
I am not afraid to travel to Europe. I refuse to shut out the beautiful world we live in because of groups like Daesh. Maybe it’s a risk, but through the attacks in Paris these groups have shown us that they will not restrain themselves to other Middle Eastern countries. Who is to say that we aren’t just as much in danger as the rest of the European countries? And please, don’t use the Syrian refugees against me. It’s a bad argument. It’s a bad argument. It’s a bad argument. It just is. There are far too many holes for that argument to hold any water.
Finally, speaking as a matured human being who is extremely well versed in how much life sucks: we cannot stop living because we are afraid, uncomfortable, or upset. We just keep going; albeit more cautiously, but when we completely shut down we are doing ourselves a huge disservice.
I understand my friends and family are only concerned because they love me, but please consider the person you’re talking to when you tell them they shouldn’t be traveling. Maybe travel is their dream. Maybe travel makes them feel whole. Maybe in the darkened world we live in travel brings them enough light to make them happy, even if it’s just for a short while. Then ask yourself, would you rather be the person they remember as someone they can count on for support? Or would you rather be remembered as someone who tried to scare them out of living? Your call.
