Despite Violence, Life Goes On
I heard rumors about a bomb scare twice in late July, just a dozen of days before the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games. Two of the rumors were similar: an anonymous call informed the police that bombs had been buried at a public place, and that policemen had cordoned off the dangerous sites for more than one hour to search for the bombs. After the search found nothing, life returned to normal.
Maybe its foolish to trust bomb hoaxes or rumors, or let oneself get anxious and tense up when the soaring summer temperatures are already uncomfortable enough. Yet, as the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Beijing, the generally peaceful and safe city, seems a little restless this summer. The bus explosion case in Yunnan last month and the attack in Xinjiang on Aug 4 appears to have had a psychological impact on Beijingers.
Aside from measures by security personnel in public transportation, Beijingers have become extra alert -- if we spot unattended baggages or black plastic bags when strolling the streets, we sound the alarm until someone investigates; when we board a bus, we check if there's something hidden underneath. Meanwhile, countless volunteers are settling into their positions in front of residential areas, on pedestrian bridges, at shopping malls and parks etc. to provide security watch. Such volunteers stand guard every 100 paces or so in Beijing now.
Yet despite all the preparation, the pace of the city never stops or slows down.
Every day during peak hours, subway lines and public buses are still packed to the brim. Despite not having any invitation or ticket, the public still flocks to the Bird's Nest stadium, hoping to catch a sneak preview of the Games opening ceremony or a free fireworks show.
In my peaceful neighborhood, I asked an old lady: "Will you go shopping in that supermarket again? They said a bomb was buried nearby."
Without a blink, she answered: "Off course I will. The police didn't find any bomb there. It was just a hoax."
She said she was unfazed by talks that crowded public places may be targets of attack, adding, "My daughter has bought two tickets to the swimming finals, and I am looking forward to that."
Beijing may be restless, the air a little more tense, but life goes on.
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