Street Talk 2-20

Question: What do you think of system the federal government’s put into place that codes terrorist threat levels according to color, for example, now we’re in “orange”?

Carol Meares, Fairbanks, AK, Pilates instructor, 48

“I think it just builds fear in the sense of getting people all hyped up. It serves no purpose besides getting people all hyped up. It gets people fearful so that they’ll feel we have to go to war. The only positive side I see is that maybe people are more on their toes and watchful for things.” 

Don Meares, Fairbanks, AK, geographer, 52

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. But for the last 100 years Americans have lived with so much safety and have lived with so much ignorance of the affairs of the world. This makes them aware of the fact that most of the world lives in fear every day.”

Polly Ward, Miami, waitress and construction, 24

“Honestly, I think a lot of it is ridiculous in the sense that it draws it out, scaring people more than resolving anything. It’s like having a bad transportation system with a lot of electrical devices telling you what time it is and where you are – instead of having more new trains and busses and improving the service. The color codes are not necessary for anything other than scaring people.”

Jorge Leiseca, Miami Beach, M.D., professor, 35

In general, yes, I think it’s a good idea. Knowing that we’re at Level Orange, as a citizen, you can’t do anything specific to prevent terrorism, but you can be more aware of anything not normal. For example, if you see something suspicious at an airport or even on the street if you see a group of people getting suspicious materials or engaged in unusual activities – you’re more prone to pay attention if the government warned you of an increased threat level.” 

Albert Stern, New York City, website editor, 40

“I was raised here, but now I live in New York City and work on Wall Street. When I’m in other parts of the country and the colors change it doesn’t seem to change much and, in that sense, it just scares people. But, in New York, when there’s a higher threat level the police presence more than triples or quadruples, for example at tunnel entrances. In New York there’s a more palpable effect whereas in Florida I can’t see a difference.”

(photos & interviews by Tony Guzman)