Anxious American, ``Different Daily Life``

Terrorist attacks followed by anthrax scare, the war at an impasse . . . , the emergency state running going in to long term is filling the daily lives of American citizens with much anxiety. However, like the residents living in areas with long-term conflicts in the globalized world, Americans are getting accustomed to the `long-term emergency`. This is a look at the changes in the daily lives of Americans through Donga News coverage and the Associated Press foreign source.

``Couple days ago, the neighbors solemnly warned, `Don`t drink tap water from now on` They said that the terrorists may poison the water. . . ``

Philip Sheen (41), a lawyer in San Francisco, California, described the impact of terrorism on the lives of families this way in an email interview with Donga News.

``Many people around us want to avoid the dark news about things like terrorism, anthrax, and the war. The number of people attending yoga class that my wife goes to has doubled recently.`` said Mr. Sheen.

Debbie Downey (43), a homemaker who lives in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, said in an interview with AP, ``I haven`t opened the mail in the last week.`` Angela Sheebrooks, a software designer who lives in Virginia does not take her two children when she goes to the mall. ``I just avoid anything that may be risky or dangerous.`` says Mrs. Sheebrooks.

``A large city used to be the object of people`s longing for rich and success, but now it is more an ``object of attack.`` says New York lawyer Michael Tremont who plans to move to the suburbs.

``Recently, I overheard firefighters talking amongst themselves about how they were scared when they had to deal with a small accident. The kind of anxiety that I felt when I saw my dad cry for the first time crept into my heart.`` says Julie Ander of Kansas City, Missouri.

``Although we may be overreacting, we do not know what kind of threats we will have to face in the future. We can`t help feeling confused since we do not know how to deal with the situation. Biochemical terrorism will become a principal issue in our daily lives.`` worries Dr. Scott Raine, an expert on infectious diseases at UCLA

Pessimistic views of the future are increasing. In a recent public opinion survey conducted by CBS and the New York Times, 53 percent of the respondents said that future terrorist attacks will take place, 1.5 times more than three weeks ago.

There are many people, however, who say that one should be `careful` but `get rid of irrational fears` and return to our normal daily lives. Nancy Dickel of Ohio is going on a family trip to New York City this weekend as planned. ``People around us told us to cancel our plans, but we do not want our lives to be taken away.`` Ms. Dickel said.

``I don`t know why the press and the people are so hysterical. I can`t change my life because of a handful of idiots.`` said John Slope (58), a director of a pharmacy company in Seattle.

Michael Dukakis who ran for the presidency in 1998 as the Democratic Party candidate and now teaches political science at UCLA commented on the varied responses in an email interview. ``American has definitely changed after September 11. But American is a strong and resilient society. Even in the uncertainty, the American basis and ideals will not change.``

sechepa@donga.com