When the IRA was blowing up shopping centres in Britain, did the Brits hide under their tables?

No, they went about their business and stuck two fingers up at the terrorists. Why is it that the USA lives in a perpetual state of fear, from everything to Muslim extremists, to illegal immigrants, to communists, to invasion? The men who died at Omaha beach would surely be ashamed that their future generations would at the slightest hint of danger hide behind their president and plead with him to protect them.