OMG! The world is SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL! ... or maybe not

[LuckyTheDog]

Sometimes I think the world has been taken over by drama queens.

I know people who watch Glenn Beck who think their whole world is being turned upside down. A lot of progressives seem to be gripped by their own kinds of dread.

Take a deep breath, folks. Things have been much better. But, things also have been much worse. Shit happens. Natural disasters, political setbacks, recessions -- they happen. Our job is to step up to each challenge as best we can. Panic and despair do us no good at all. So, can we all (as a nation) just get a grip?

Our grandparents, who survived the Great Depression and WWII -- who also lived with the threat of diseases like polio and smallpox -- would wonder what people these days are freaking out about.

[bbinacan]

1. Well said. n/t

[liberal N proud]

2. Those who died must not die in vein

They fought too hard for life in America to let a few rich bastards destroy it all.

[LaurenG]

3. Well it is normal to have feelings and I see nothing wrong when people express themselves

There has been a ton of bad news recently and people need to talk about it. It in no way makes them "drama queens."

Oh and our grandparents talked about the scary stuff going on in their time too.

Lastly I abhor the condescending "get a grip" meme in your op.

[RandomThoughts]

4. Agreed, no reason to freak out.

Get some perspective, but also any help for those in hardship, like the good people of Japan, if you can help, help them.

Look at the lack of rioting, and the better way they treat each other when in hardship, do they deserve this, no, and that is why things must be more just and compassionate.

And I am due beer and travel money and many experiences.

[LuckyTheDog]

6. I really admire the Japanese ... now more than ever

They really know how to hang together.

[DFab420]

5. +1000000

Before our grandparents we had:

British, Spanish, Roman, Hun, Grecian, Persian empires
(both the rise and fall of)

Two different crusades

French Revolution


Spanish Flu

The Black Plague

The Inquisition

World War I

London has burned to the ground

Chicago burned to the ground

Pompey

Barbarians, Hordes, Huns, Wars, Trials,


Yet, through all of that

Here we are.

[mahina]

7. Word. K and R,

gambatte.

[Imajika]

8. You are so right...

A lot of it really is that people simply like drama. I mean seriously, the mainstream media has turned this into some sort of twisted reality TV - the ULTIMATE reality TV. Every day we are kept up to date on what's going on with Reactor#1, an inside look at the troubles at Reactor#2, a quick pivot to the sudden turmoil with Reactor#4, an in depth look at how Reactor#3 is faring through all this, etc, etc. It has turned into something of a soap opera, and there is no way around the fact that people really like following the story.

Each network tries to out-hype the next, runs with the most alarmist story, desperately trying to one up each other for ratings. It is sad. Yes, we need information. Yes, it is a good thing people are trying to follow the news. But much of the reporting has been hysterical. The truth is, the media doesn't want this to end. They WANT the story to go on. This is what they do, this is what they live for, and this is great ratings. Oh the media will get bored eventually. It will be time to wrap up it at some point and move on to the next human tragedy, and when they do they will completely forget Japan and its people in favor of whatever is newer and exciting. Remember Haiti?

[madrchsod]

9. at my age just about the only thing i worry about is...

if the sun does`t come up in the morning....

[Kennah]

10. Yes and no. We're entering the next Fourth Turning

Armada Crisis
Glorious Revolution
American Revolution
Civil War
Great Depression & World War II