Apparently the national government has made some changes in efforts to counter terrorism here in France post 9/11.
What I had noticed is that there's a little fence infront of all schools here. it's not a big fence, it's more like a wrought iron garden fence. I couldn't figure out why they were there, except maybe in elementary schools to keep kids from running into the street. It turns out that the gov't decreed that the fences be installed as anti terrorist measures. Believe me, I was skeptical when that was the answer they first gave. apparently, no one is allowed to park their cars in front of the fences, so as to reduce the possible threats of car bombs, hence the reason for the fences. I don't know why they couldn't just paint the curbs, but that's the reason.There's one other one too. All over Paris, public trashcans don't exist. instead, they have green metal poles that support green translucent trashbags. I'd decided that it was more practical...
people could simply tell when the bag was full, and they'd be easier to change. Turns out no. the bags are anti terrorist precautions, so that it's harder to leave a bomb in the trashcan. and my host family misses the old, "pretty" trashcans that used to be all over Paris."Holy Anti Terrorist Device, Batman!"
This all led into an interesting conversation, including my attempt at explaining the wonderful rainbow system of warnings adopted by HS, and I think that both my host parents and I hold the same opinion. While the precautions taken by the gov't are sometimes rediculous, terrorism is not itself something to joke about. Since being here, I have gotten onto a crowded metro car and thought to myself "if someone were to do something to this train, I don't know if I could excape".
just some food for though.
Kate, i'd love your opinion on this miss IR and lover of all things like this.
4 comments:
Haha, you're right! I love this entry. I actually figured about the trashcans and I assume that's why ALL grocery trash bags are see-through too. At Porte de Clignantcourt, they also have armed policemen and dogs. Somehow, though, I think that's more for narcotics than for terrorism. Unless the drugs are funding terror? Ah, the theories...
well, the dogs could be for bombs. I didn't mention them because that's not unheard of back home. I just decided to mention the ones we talked about last night.
hmm, interesting to see what different precautions people have taken. I rather liked the trashbag solution, i didnt even think about trashcan bombs. Car bombs, mail bombs, subway bombs, school bombs, etc yes. but i dont think ive ever considered trashcan bombs.
Good words.
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