America is addicted to terror: Why our obsession with irrational fear is tearing this country apart

[ashling]

http://www.salon.com/2015/12/22/america_is_addicted_to_terror_why_our_obession_with_irrational_fear_is_tearing_this_country_apart/

I’m a constantly anxious person. I worry that I said something stupid in a meeting or that I left my car window down. I worry about the safety of my children walking to school. I’m even afraid about saying something wrong on Facebook.

However, despite my innate anxiety, I have no fear of terrorism. I know that I have a better chance of getting hit by lightning or slipping in the tub than of even meeting a member of Daesh (an alternative name for ISIS, which the group detests — so we should all use it). People have been talked into existential, paralyzing fright by exploitive politicians and ratings-hungry, fake news outlets, like CNN and Fox News, among others. We have let ourselves become fearful over almost nothing.

But my own irrational fear is far outweighed by my anger. I’m angry that we are so easily manipulated as a species and as a country. Every election cycle, we see newly minted, terrifying boogeymen out to destroy America, so we give up a little more of our power and dignity to those who promise to make it all better. If you think I’m overstating it, I would remind you of the Great Ebola Panic of 2014. Just before the last midterm election (convenient timing), our nation was both obsessed over and terrified about the “threat of Ebola” (picture the word dripping with green slime for effect). “Close the Borders, Now!” screamed irrational, cowardly headlines, written (one presumes) by toddlers hiding underneath a pink “My Little Pony” blanket. It’s the essence of irrational.

[montanacowboy]

1. How True

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave....my ass

[ashling]

3. Home of the easily manipulated

Land of the pants pissing terrified.

[Blue Owl]

2. We are 20% more likely to be struck by lightning

Than killed in a terrorist attack.