Letter: Feeling of safety has disappeared

Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 | 9:05 a.m.

I got in my car tonight and put on my seatbelt, as I do most times I head anywhere, when suddenly I became acutely aware of how minuscule this action has become.

We wear seatbelts to guard ourselves from horrific car accidents. We have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to warn us of terrible fires and silent, odorless gas. We see the doctor for preventive tests and checkups to protect us from disease. Generally, we don't smoke; we watch what we eat and we exercise to stay healthy. We brush our teeth to keep them. We install car and home alarms to guard our property. We don't run with scissors. We wear helmets when hopping on a bike or attempting to rollerblade. We don't cross the street against the light. We don life preservers when we go boating.

We cherish life and search for ways to prolong it by insulating ourselves from the familiar, everyday dangers by what now, in the face of cryptic, daunting threats, appear to be somewhat capricious actions in regard to the unknown hazards of tomorrow.

In the face of such grave uncertainty, it is the struggle to find concrete security to defend us that creates our anxiety. This evening, I wonder where is our seatbelt, our life preserver?

DAWN CHRISTENSEN