Have You Altered Your Thanksgiving Travel Plans Due to Terrorism Threats?
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121656)
Gainesville, Florida
November 25, 2015 9:24am CST
The US Government has issued a worldwide travel alert due to the threat of terrorists actions over the Thanksgiving holiday. With round-the-clock news of bombings, shootings and other negative news, you would think that many Americans would be hesitant to travel.
Major airports and busy travel centers are being guarded by police and military armed with automatic weapons; police dogs and bomb-sniffing dogs are busy inspecting everything that comes near the airports, and everyone is on high alert.
But even with threats looming, many Americans are shrugging it off and going about their lives as normal. It is estimated that a record 47 million Americans will be traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Have threats of terrorism made you cancel or alter your Thanksgiving travel plans?
7 people like this
9 responses
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
12 Jan 17
@moffittjc We don't celebrate Thanksgiving as you know but if there was any other event going on here that had threats, I would most likely cancel the plans. Better to be safe than sorry.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jan 17
What? You don't celebrate Thanksgiving? What is wrong with you? That's a major holiday! LMFAO
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jan 17
@VivaLaDani13 I can start celebrating it, if you tell me when it is and what it means and what you do to celebrate.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
13 Jan 17
@moffittjc lol well do you celebrate Australia Day? 
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
14 Jan 17
There was a time years ago when 4 or maybe 5 bomb blasts happened in quick succession within minutes of each other. It was before Diwali in the crowdest part of Delhi. The most popular and busiest markets. It did chaneg several plans.
Last year, none of the Sikhs celebrated Diwali. Not a single candle was lighted on that night of "festival of lights". It was named "Black Diwali"? I think? I don't particularly remember the why but I do remember the violence I saw on T.V.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jan 17
Was there credible threats of violence or terrorism last year that caused the Sikhs to cancel Diwali altogether? That is upsetting to hear that it was totally cancelled due to terrorist concerns.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
14 Jan 17
@moffittjc I think it was some sort of silent protestation. Though opportunists took advantage of that and violence ensued in some areas.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
2 Dec 15
Terrorist threats have never caused me to reconsider my plans. According to the UK government website we are warned about visiting more countries than I can remember, but I have been to Turkey and Tunisia earlier this year.
The nature of terrorist attacks is unpredictability and all venues are potential targets. These could be airlines, railways, shopping malls or cinemas, so how do you avoid such events. In reality staying at home and going to buy a loaf could have the same result.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
2 Dec 15
@moffittjc We are both living in countries that have had major incidents of some kind. Here in England we had one where the Iranian Embassy in London was under siege, but it did not deter tourists from visiting London afterwards. There have also been numerous incidents of mass shootings in the USA, yet British tourists still flock there every year.
When the museum in Tunisia was targeted earlier this year everyone suddenly cancelled their holidays.
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Dec 15
I don't live in fear as a result of terrorist threats, but I have become more vigilant. Everywhere I go now, I pay more attention to each and every person around me. I notice my surroundings more; I look for potential hiding spots, and quick exit/escape routes. The key is to be as prepared as you can for any type of attack, and then be ready to respond if it happens.
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Dec 15
@Asylum I can tell you, from all the times I visit Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, British tourists have not at all thinned their ranks! I take my family to Disney every year at Christmas, and by the size of the British crowds at the theme park, it seems the entire population of the UK is at Disney! lol
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
25 Nov 15
Well we are not and usually do not go anywhere anyway.
I am sure many families will get together regardless of the terrible threat.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 15
This is definitely a holiday that is ALL about being together with family, so I find it hard to believe that people will cancel their travel plans just because of terrorist threats. Hell, when blizzards hit and flights are cancelled or delayed for days and people are stuck sleeping in airports, they STILL do everything they can to get home to their families!
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
25 Nov 15
@moffittjc Yes you are right Jeff..I cant see this stopping anyone much this holiday.
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
26 Nov 15
I never have been one to travel around the holidays. Things just seem to crazy for me. So the alert didn't really phase me, cause I have no plans/never did of going anywhere.
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
27 Nov 15
@moffittjc I totally and completely agree with you there. We can only hope for the best.
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 15
Let's hope nothing bad happens this holiday season! There are certainly a lot of people traveling this year, and I hope they all stay vigilant and prepared!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
25 Nov 15
Nope. Several years ago while I was taking language students on trips to Europe, there were bombings and killings smaller, but similar to now. Most kids freaked out, but four female German students did not. We went, and had a wonderful trip. Sure, we saw armed guards in airports, but that just made them the safest place to be.
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 15
I don't think we should let fear overcome us. Yes, we should keep our eyes open and be more vigilant as we travel, but as for cancelling travel plans, I don't think we need to go that far.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
26 Nov 15
@moffittjc I don't let other people change my mind very often. There has to be a really good reason. A vague unsettled feeling just won't do it for me.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace Happy Thanksgiving Elizabeth!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 15
It's been quite a few years since I've had to travel over the holidays! Thankfully, all my family lives in the same city as I do, and are only minutes away! Can sometimes be a pain, but during the holidays having them so close is definitely a blessing!
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Nov 15
@moffittjc I must agree the closer the better otherwise travelling can be a pain in the neck
@RonElFran (1214)
• Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
25 Nov 15
I doubt that many Americans will be affected by the terrorism scare, at least here in the US. If I were planning a trip abroad, I might rethink those plans.
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Nov 15
Despite the threats in Europe, I know of a bunch of my friends who just booked flights to places like Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Brussels! I guess they are choosing to not let fear stop them from their travel plans!
