…that they are writing articles where the clear message is that going into the downtown of a large city, especially (1) going into a tall building (define tall!) or (2) riding subways, is a foolish act of taking ones very life into one’s hands.
WTF!?!?!?!?
media outlets like the New York Times:
and the Chicago Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/terror/cst-nws-fear14s1.html
have been printing lurid articles in which they repeatedly quote people afraid to work or live in highrises, ride the subway, or go downtown in general. Not a few weeks ago, but OVER THIS LAST WEEKEND! I have also seen similar stories on the television news, including a lengthy “downtowns are dangerous terrorist deathtraps” piece on CBS’s “Sunday Morning” program just this last Sunday.
As far as I can tell, they aren’t doing the same to suburban malls, sports arenas, universities, or anywhere else that COULD be terrorist targets because large numbers of people congregate there.
These papers and television stations are URBAN media outlets, with staffs that not only work but (many of them, including some of the higher decision-makers) live in the hearts of large cities daily. They SHOULD know better than to fall into the “cities are a dangerous place for respectable (read three-car-owning detached house in a white-bread subdivision) Amurricans and should be avoided” trap. They should know better, but these stories show that either they really don’t or they place easy ratings from pandering to suburban fear of cities (“Martha, I knew there was a reason we left the city!”) above reality.
