I was frustrated by George Bridges’ recent e-mail about the Homeland Security campus alert. The incident at Virginia Tech was a terrible tragedy and I hold compassion in my heart for all those who still suffer. I am very skeptical, however, of Homeland Security’s attempt to twist this into another tool of fear to manipulate the American public. Although the “quiet alert” did not mention terrorism, our automatic emotional response to Homeland Security threats is to think of terrorism and 9/11. Would it be too much of a stretch to think that this fear tactic is directed at college campuses, since colleges are seen as a “hotbed” of political dissent?

If Whitman buys into the terror alert system, I would consider some of the actual dangers that we face on a daily basis. Before we have “quiet alert” for shooters/terrorists, perhaps we should have “loud alert” for automobiles, since 35,000 Americans die every year in automobile accidents. Is Whitman going to continue to support the culture of fear that the federal government propagates?

– James Most