I had no idea about this until a couple of nights ago. I was watching some Law & Order: SVU reruns with my dad when a commercial comes on. Now I probably wouldn't have thought anything about a preparedness commercial had it been about a natural disaster, afterall I do live in Texas with tornadoes and hurricanes, not to mention all the flooding, however, this commercial specifically mentioned terrorist attacks. I wish I could find it online, but since I can't, I'll describe it. The commercial starred kids, looking into the camera, and asking a variety of questions such as, "Mom, what do I do if you're late picking me up from soccer?"...I wish I could remember more questions, but it seems like they were all questions like that - "What do I do if....". Then the narrator comes on and says something about having a plan for different emergencies and asking if you have a plan for a terrorist attack. I looked at my dad, started laughing, and called it American propaganda BS.

Is being prepared for a terrorist attack really up there with being ready for a natural disaster? Is this part of the fear-mongering?


Ready.gov: Be Informed
YouTube - Search Results for “ready.gov”
ready.gov - Google Video

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The company in the netherland where i work for offers an optional ensurance against politically motivated crime and terrorist attacks (but we dont offer ensurance against storms or floods).

So, nothing unique to america here.

Actually it's been around for a while now, at least beready.gov and its associated commercials have been.

Never seen the commercials or ads, myself.

But, it's pretty ridiculous. There are thousands upon thousands of things that are more likely to kill a US citizen than a terrorist attack. I'd imagine that 'death by terrorism' might actually fall near the very bottom of ways that US citizens perish.

Can anyone hazard a guess on how many US citizens have been killed by terrorism on US soil since the founding of the country? It's gotta be at most 4,000 or something (I guess the number would vary depending on one's definition of terrorism) over a 200+ year history, with the large majority of them occurring in 2001.

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"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics

Propaganda. It might be a good idea to give it Some thought, but making full-fledged plans and out-right preparations should fall well below getting your chimney cleaned and tires rotated in overall importance.

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Tomorrow's forecast: 100% chance of more 'politics as usual'

Maybe it's finally time to vote Libertarian

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Why they chose a turtle is beyond me. It seems like a duck would've been the obvious choice.

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"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics

because the turtle can hide in his shell, thus protecting himself from the nuclear blast effects. i couldn't make up anything quite so crazy.

Ah, yes, you're right. I had completely forgotten about the all natural radiation shielding nuclear fall out shelter turtles carry around.

We can only hope the genius marketing minds in the government come up with a hip, edgy turtle that appeals to modern youth and educates on the dangers of terrorism.

Shit, they should just use the Ninja Turtles.

__________________
"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics

The Ninja Turtles supplying everyone with plastic sheets and duct tape?

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

It'd work on me in second.

__________________
"Anyone that needs what they want, and doesn’t want what they need
I want nothing to do with
And to do what I want
And to do what I please
Is first on my to-do list"
-Gnarls Barkley, "Going On" lyrics

That's 'cause you like the duct tape!

__________________
When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

I could probably think of several other types of mishaps and disasters that the average American should probably be prepared for than terrorism. However, living in NYC during 9/11 did freak me out a bit. Does that mean that I am now 'prepared' for a terrorist attack? No.

I do have one of those crank-operated radios, a few flashlights, candles, etc... but I have those as a result of the big blackout, not 9/11.

IMO the ad is complete BS.
As others have already said, people are far more likely to die by other means than by terrorism.
Every family should have an action plan and emergency goodies somewhere as we never know when we'd need them but I do not foresee a reason for a "terrorist" plan.....Actually, if a family were prepared for floods, loss of electricity and loss of heat; what other stuff would one need for a terrorist attack? Maybe gas masks ????? that's all I could think of.

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Anyone who thinks freedom comes cheap, please put the blindfold on and stand against the wall.

Many times I believe Americans will have to take back the country and start a new government.

Then I take it you are outraged by things like the Patriot Act, which suppress rights to supposedly protect us from terrorists?

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