On a sweltering Tuesday just before the Fourth of July, TIME.com hit the streets of Manhattan to ask New Yorkers how they felt about the upcoming holiday: Were they fearful, apprehensive or unaffected? Much like the city's inhabitants, the responses were wildly varied.
WILSON ORTIZ
Age 47
Brooklyn
"I've been thinking about it long and hard. It's a difficult time to go out and do things you'd normally do because there's that fear that if something happens — and that could be anything, not necessarily that we're attacked or anything like that — but just people may be rowdier because of the patriotism that they're feeling. Usually we've gone on the FDR drive up to the highway to watch the fireworks. But this year I'm worried: What if the crowd starts to run because somebody's setting off fireworks or something?"
PATRICK STACK FOR TIME
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BARBARA DILIBERTI
Age 52
Brooklyn
"I absolutely refuse to let this affect my life. We were back at work the next day after September 11th. My life is not going to change one iota."
CECILIA WONG FOR TIME
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FRAN FERRARO
Age 40
Brooklyn
"Yes and no. I come here every day, and hey, look, when it's your time to go, you go, no matter where you are, so it's not going to matter, really. So I live every day; I enjoy myself because you never know what happens tomorrow."
PATRICK STACK FOR TIME
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SHANI SAMLAL
Age 19
Queens
"Well, initially (I was concerned) due to all the speculations and warnings and stuff, but those have been around for a while, so I guess it's more wondering what might happen, if something does, but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm not sure, really. I don't want to predict something and have it come true. I'm probably just going to stay in Queens; I'm probably not going to be around the city. It's nothing due to the warnings or anything."
CECILIA WONG FOR TIME
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REGINA TORRENCE
Age 51
Washington Heights
"Well, the best step you're going to take is to pray. Call on your Heavenly Father, because that's the best protection you're going to have. Because let's face it: the Police Department, the FBI, the CIA — they can't really stop the terrorists. So it's in your Heavenly Father's hands, that's whose hands it's in."
CECILIA WONG FOR TIME
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WILSON MIZHQUIRI
Age 25
Midtown
"Well, despite everything that happened in September, we've only
been affected economically ... but spiritually, it hasn't affected a single person, because we're all still united in fighting for a better future, toward progress. Regarding fear, I only have faith in God and faith that nothing will happen to us."
CECILIA WONG FOR TIME
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MORTON CHALFIN
Age 78
Brooklyn
"No, when you reach my age there's nothing to fear but fear itself. I've been in World War II so I believe in this country and unfortunately it's sad about the younger people that have to have this on their minds, but fear should never conquer."
CECILIA WONG FOR TIME
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JIHWAN KIM
Age 30
Brooklyn
"Yes. I don't feel as safe as I used to, because there's a possibility (of terrorism) and those possibilities are probably increased on special occasions like the 4th of July."