In light of the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels (and my own upcoming Europe trip), I feel strongly compelled to share my opinion on the matter. I'm now fortunate enough to be writing for the Odyssey, and consequently, have a fantastic media platform at my disposal. After quite a bit of silent reflection, I'm going to get this off of my chest.
As a foreword, I'm not going to be discussing Islam and its relation to extremist/terrorist organizations, nor will I be discussing the countless other terrorist attacks that occur worldwide. Right now, I'm going to solely address American tourism in Europe.
Taking current current events into consideration, I believe that now is an important time to travel to Europe.
I understand that the average American would feel uneasy at that statement, but traveling abroad is perfectly safe when done smartly.
The bottom line? It's extremely unlikely that you're going to be killed by a terrorist abroad. And I have the numbers to prove it.
From the years 2004 to 2013, 80 Americans were killed in acts of terrorism, according to the GTD (Global Terrorism Database). Although I've seen variations to this data, ranging from lows of 45 to highs of 100 plus (depending on numerous factors), numbers don't lie. Statistically speaking, you are more likely to be killed abroad by a variety of other things and not a terrorist attack.
If the majority of Americans are so concerned about traveling safely, then they had better stay away from all bugs and animals (more nominally, cows), prescription painkillers, and motor vehicles— while in their own country. Abroad, Americans are more likely to die from drowning or suicide rather than from acts of violent extremism.
Moreover, you are only one person in seven billion. Numerically, you're roughly 0.00000000000142857 percent of the entire world. The odds that you'll be the target of an act of terrorism are microscopically small. Obviously, that percentage doesn't take into account factors such as one's geographic location, ethnicity, income, etc. But do you see the picture I'm trying to paint?
All of the statistics that anyone could ever need have been laid out. Now think about it logically.
There is absolutely no reason to cancel a vacation to Europe at this point in time. It's completely ridiculous that, for "safety" reasons, schools cancel trips to Europe and protective, concerned parents keep their children from experiencing the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, terrorism isn't uncommon in Europe, yet Americans didn't hesitate when traveling abroad a decade ago. For years, the European Police (Europol) have been combatting terrorism, and only recently have these issues been headlining and becoming "relevant" to Americans. I'd argue the reason for this is that in the past year or so, we've given it a name: the Islamic State. According to American media, these events aren't random anymore like they were a few years back; they're all connected now.
Every passing act of terrorism strikes fear deep into the heart of millions. That's a very powerful statement, isn't it? But it isn't the complete truth. A better, more accurate version of that sentence would be the occasional act of terrorism in Europe causes millions to mourn the loss of dozens and causes Americans to become xenophobic, angry, and scared, despite the fact that they are in no immediate danger.
The issue is blown way out of proportion. We're giving power to extremists in the very way that they want us to. We're turning terrorist organizations into transcendent, unstoppable, omnipotent forces that should be feared at all times.
When you feed a fear, it only grows stronger. Isn't that what we tell children whenever they cry about the monsters under their beds? It's the same thing. Terrorism is a growing modern issue, but it needs to be solved with logic, not with fear and other emotions.
I argue that it has never been more important to travel abroad than it is right now. These acts of terrorism occur largely from a miscommunication and a gross misperception of the West. Through travel, one learns to become more accepting, open minded, and aware of the hundreds of cultures and beliefs in the world. The educational values of travel are endless, but I digress.
If you're not willing to play the "odds," that's your choice. But you had better not complain about having to cancel your vacation to Paris because of safety reasons while taking medication or driving a car.
As a matter of fact, I'm ecstatic for my upcoming trip to Europe this summer, and I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm not worried about being the target of terrorism. I refuse to let the fear of the unlikely dictate my life. Sure, there's risk in traveling abroad, but there's also risk in showering, breathing, and eating. I only have one life to live, and I am not going to spend it regretting lost opportunities.
