Is the "War on Terror" Scaring you?
For a country founded by men who put their considerable wealth, priviledge, and status at risk to fight for an ideal, these here United States of America seem to be in the grip of an almost pathological fear. Fear of terrorists.......
If we do fear a terrorist attack to the point of running around like Henney-Penney, haven't we conceded to the terrorists? Haven't they won by making us afraid to the point of irrationality?
I lived in the UK during the height of the IRA "troubles" in 1975-1978. IRA bombings in England were a fairly regular occurrence during that period. But people went on with their lives. Stiff upper lip, and all that. One personal incident gives a flavour: I was working on an archaeological dig in York, and on Sunday went to mass at Yorkminster. This famous old cathedral is the type of landmark, especially a Protestant landmark, which might have been targeted by the IRA. When I went down to take communion, I left a small bag of laundry at the end of the pew in the aisle, without thinking other than it would be impolite to go to the bar clutching a bag of dirty underwear. I didn't return to retrieve my laundry until after the service had ended. When I picked it up, a very nice old lady said to me "We're so glad to see you pick up your bag - we were a little concerned that it might have been a bomb." I was surprised, and sheepishly apologized, and wished her and her friend a good day.
But on current reflection, what might have happened in GW's America under similar circumstances? Panicked 911 cell phone calls summoning SWAT teams and bomb units, arrests, triumphant press releases by Homeland Security that they got one, and the event used to justify further curtailments of Constitutional rights?
My wife has a friend whose medical condition requires her to go to see a specialist in San Francisco. The car journey requires her to cross the Bay Bridge. She went several months without seeing her doctor because she was afraid of a terrorist bombing of the Bay Bridge! And what news channel did she regularly watch - why Fox News, of course! And who does she support and vote for - why GW Bush and Dick Cheney.
Here is a word from one of their sponsors:
This is, in my opinion, the crux of the problem - in the UK, the government acted responsibly, and with restraint and good sense during the IRA troubles. And the people, while concerned, went about their business, expecting rationally that the chances of being bombed were low. Contrast this with the arrant fear-mongering of the Bush Administration and its shills Fox News and Talk Radio. Their blatant effort to foment fear in order to cement their power is worse than irresponsible - it is criminal.
The only right action in this regard is to stand up and resist.
No tengo miedo - I am not afraid!
If we do fear a terrorist attack to the point of running around like Henney-Penney, haven't we conceded to the terrorists? Haven't they won by making us afraid to the point of irrationality?
I lived in the UK during the height of the IRA "troubles" in 1975-1978. IRA bombings in England were a fairly regular occurrence during that period. But people went on with their lives. Stiff upper lip, and all that. One personal incident gives a flavour: I was working on an archaeological dig in York, and on Sunday went to mass at Yorkminster. This famous old cathedral is the type of landmark, especially a Protestant landmark, which might have been targeted by the IRA. When I went down to take communion, I left a small bag of laundry at the end of the pew in the aisle, without thinking other than it would be impolite to go to the bar clutching a bag of dirty underwear. I didn't return to retrieve my laundry until after the service had ended. When I picked it up, a very nice old lady said to me "We're so glad to see you pick up your bag - we were a little concerned that it might have been a bomb." I was surprised, and sheepishly apologized, and wished her and her friend a good day.
But on current reflection, what might have happened in GW's America under similar circumstances? Panicked 911 cell phone calls summoning SWAT teams and bomb units, arrests, triumphant press releases by Homeland Security that they got one, and the event used to justify further curtailments of Constitutional rights?
My wife has a friend whose medical condition requires her to go to see a specialist in San Francisco. The car journey requires her to cross the Bay Bridge. She went several months without seeing her doctor because she was afraid of a terrorist bombing of the Bay Bridge! And what news channel did she regularly watch - why Fox News, of course! And who does she support and vote for - why GW Bush and Dick Cheney.
Here is a word from one of their sponsors:
This is, in my opinion, the crux of the problem - in the UK, the government acted responsibly, and with restraint and good sense during the IRA troubles. And the people, while concerned, went about their business, expecting rationally that the chances of being bombed were low. Contrast this with the arrant fear-mongering of the Bush Administration and its shills Fox News and Talk Radio. Their blatant effort to foment fear in order to cement their power is worse than irresponsible - it is criminal.
The only right action in this regard is to stand up and resist.
No tengo miedo - I am not afraid!
posted by divadab | 09:50
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