Schmidt: Countering terror: Push back fear

The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 have brought an onslaught of terror attacks and tumult. While the incidents that occurred over the last several months may not be connected, they do usher in a sense of chaos and fear.

As a country, to meet this moment of terror, we must all look both outwards and inwards — all while balancing the public’s safety and protecting our beloved freedoms.

While not exhaustive, here are a few of the terror-inducing events that have occurred over the last several months:

• On Dec. 4, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan in a “brazen, targeted attack” as he walked toward a hotel, New York police said. Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing Thompson, was later charged with 11 counts, including murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism.
• Debrina Kawam of Toms River, N.J., was burned alive on Dec. 22, 2024, on a New York City subway. Kawam was asleep on a subway train that stopped at a station in Brooklyn’s Coney Island when her clothes were set ablaze. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil allegedly fanned the flames with a shirt, engulfing her in the blaze, before sitting on a platform bench and watching as she burned. Zapeta-Calil pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges.
• 14 people were killed and 35 were injured after a man drove a truck into a crowd at Bourbon and Canal streets in New Orleans on New Year’s Day in a terrorist attack, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
• Also on New Year’s Day, a man fatally shot himself in a Tesla Cybertruck just before it blew up outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas.

Our society can deal with these intrusions on our safety and security and push back on our fears by looking outward to our leaders and elected officials and inward by strengthening our personal relationships and communities.

Citizens can hope that the elected officials who were recently elected, as well as the leaders of our institutions, will take our collective security seriously. We should also expect that those leaders will share accurate information and not spew misinformation or share inaccurate reporting on the suspects or perpetrators of these crimes.

The Department of Homeland Security suggests that preventing targeted violence and terrorism requires a community approach. Their list of community members includes educators; law enforcement; health care practitioners; behavioral and mental health professionals; faith-based organizations; and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

It’s important to stay aware of our surroundings without becoming overly anxious. Knowing potential safety concerns can empower us to respond appropriately if we notice something unusual. Being informed can help us feel more secure and prepared.

The fear of terrorism can be debilitating. While it is important to stay informed, limit media exposure, practice relaxation techniques, develop safety plans, seek support from loved ones and reach out to professionals if anxiety becomes overwhelming. Essentially, trying to maintain a sense of control by acknowledging fears while focusing on daily life and taking practical steps to mitigate risks are key practices in coping with the anxiety and fear of terrorism and violence.

Lynn Schmidt is an Editorial Board member for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.