CHS journalism alum reports on mood overseas

Cody Enterprise

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Maggie Stanwood is a journalism major at the University of Missouri. She is studying in Italy this semester. Stanwood graduated from Cody High School and was the Wyoming high school journalist of the year in 2013.)

ROME – When terrorists attacked Brussels, Belgium, I was visiting the Colosseum in Rome.

I received an email from my host university in Milan, urging students to notify them if they were in or planning on traveling to Brussels.

Almost 1,000 miles away, I was shaken.

A friend from my home university was studying in Brussels and I knew she had just returned home recently. She could have been in the airport. She could have been in the metro. She could have never made it home.

According to the Associated Press, 400-600 Islamic State fighters have been trained to attack Europe and not only to attack but to “choose the time, place and method for maximum chaos.” Suddenly, every foreign soldier with an assault rifle I’d seen near monuments or on public transportation made sense: Europe is under attack and each country knows it.

As a young American, I’ve seen the social fallout from 9/11 as I’ve grown; Islamophobia; the rise of extreme conservatism (looking at you, Donald Trump); and the general fear of anything that is not inherently and wholly American.

The countries in Europe are so diverse in culture and language yet despite these differences share and appreciate each other’s cultures. It would be a tragedy to see the same xenophobia the United States has developed on such a diverse continent.

After the Syrian refugee crisis and the attacks, there are already signs of this openness coming to an end. Italy and 25 other European countries comprise the “Schengen area,” which allows free entry between these countries once permission has been established to enter one. According to politico.com, Germany already is pressing for stricter border control and EU leaders are calling for more measures to monitor travelers within the Schengen area, making it more difficult to do the type of unlimited travel Europe is known for.

This is especially tragic as many lives were saved by Europe opening its borders to the victims of terrorism and war in Syria. Europe is smart to take these defenses, but it makes me sad these are measures they will have to take.

As a student abroad, I’m visiting most of the major capitals and monuments in Europe. While I’m definitely enjoying the experience, there’s always a thought in the back of my mind the spot I visit could be the next target for “maximum chaos.”

However, I must push past that thought because my peers and I can’t stay home every day in order to avoid the next random and horrific tragedy – and neither can the rest of Europe. Living your life in spite of horror is a type of rebellion.

I’m worried for future study abroad students and travelers whose time might be marred by attacks on cities they’ve grown to love.

Most of all, I grieve for Europe because I know their pain is probably not over — and might not be for a while — in the same way America continues to experience negative side effects from 9/11.

I’m hoping for no more hashtags created because innocent people were murdered, so in the same way I #PrayforParis and #PrayforBruxelles, I #PrayforEurope.