Unfortunately, there are lots of evil and vicious professional troublemakers in our world today. Many intend murder – mass murder – and destruction, and the disruption of society.
Al-Qaida is just one of many such groups. Terrorists are adept at causing serious danger, or may cause costly disruptions by a mere threat, without even lifting a finger.
For example, just spreading a rumor that there may be some kind of terrorist attack can unsettle millions of people. Such a situation is affecting our world today.
The United States has recently felt it necessary to issue an official warning for Americans to be vigilant about the possibility of danger in traveling in Europe.
Not many decades ago, it was possible for a carefree tourist to visit the wonders of Europe with eagerness and safety – and an airfare as low as $99! School tours were “big” and still are. And there were all sorts of group excursions to Paris and London and many other places in Europe to “see the sights” – all with virtually no threats or dangers.
But now, American tourists are being officially warned to be wary lest they become victims of terrorist violence in Europe. Be careful about crowds at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, tourists are warned. Watch out for danger in gatherings around the wonders of Rome, officials advise. Caution is urged at all European sites where tourists may throng. There may be real and immediate danger, we are told.
Or there may be no actual danger at all – just the possibility. Only a vague report, a possibility, is enough to create anxiety – and to harm the economies of nations that are visitor magnets.
What a shame. We all know there are enough evil people seeking to trouble civilization that it would be foolish for us not to give warnings and not to take precautions.
That is the world we live in today, when by just spreading a rumor, any of a large number of enemies of civilization can and do cause great distress.
A few years ago, airliner hijackings were a real danger. There were enough terrible incidents with mass fatalities to require costly and intrusive precautions. And now mere threats are requiring official warnings, upsetting many.
We dare not ignore the possibility of terrorist attacks, because we can imagine the horror if, for example, a bomb exploded in a crowd at some major tourist attraction.
So caution is necessary. Varied enemies of humanity can cause trouble with a mere hint. And, of course, there are some terrorists who would like to cause numerous casualties with some real catastrophe.
Such are the times in which we live.