[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        AMERICANS NEED TO KEEP TERRORIST THREATS IN PERSPECTIVE

  (Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I want to make a few comments about the 
terrorist activity going on and recognize it for what it is.
  Terrorists are nongovernmental groups who are trying to disrupt 
legitimate governments. They do that, they attempt to do that 
disruption by terrifying people. Therefore, they are called terrorists. 
They do this by trying to instill fear, to cause substantial expense to 
legitimate governments, to disrupt daily life and achieve their goals 
in that way when they cannot achieve them through legitimate power.
  We have to keep that in mind in our response. It is very important 
that we do not become fearful, that we do not become terrified, and 
that we go about our normal lives.
  Mr. Speaker, let me speak for a moment as the scientist that I am. 
Let us keep things in perspective. I am very concerned that our Nation 
seems to be fearful, extremely fearful of anthrax. Recognize the risk 
and put it in perspective. Every day of the week approximately 120 
Americans get killed in car accidents, and many more injured; yet very 
few have been affected by terrorist activities. I urge Americans to 
fly. It is safe. I ask Americans not to ignore the threat of anthrax, 
but simply be careful.

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