Feeling a bit... paranoid today?

[Ocean Breeze]

Are irrational fears a North American and Western European thing?

I do believe so.

would think this is quite right. Western society - (ok.....this is a generalization to a degree) is a lot more neurotic. Fears are part of neurosis too. All one has to do is examine the statistics of : number of people taking anti anxiety agents (meds) anti depressants......etc. Now , that could be due to the fact we are more aware of these treatable conditions.......but the fear factor is very prevalent in both conditions. ......So reinforcing it via the media only makes it worse.

The materialism of western society factors in too. THe "must have" (" I want").....(anxiety ) and "afraid to lose what one has ".......etc..... becomes part of the neurotic dynamic. Wants and needs are not clearly differentiated anymore.

thought provoking............thanks..

 

[Vanni Fucci]

Re: RE: Feeling a bit... paranoid today?

I think in the UK and in the US, a shift of power could mean the difference between a continuing downhill slide and a slow recovery from the paranoia and distrust.

Whereas I'd love nothing more than for the world to be able to go back to pre-911 rationality, I doubt that'll happen anytime soon...this road we've been marched down is, for the most part, a one way street...things may change, but very, very slowly...

The hardest part was taking away the freedom in the first place...governments will be loathe to give the power back, and if by some chance a government is elected that truly values liberties, and once they try to rescind these paranoia acts, they will surely be met with violent opposition...(ie. more terror attacks...)

*sigh*

Humanity has such a long road ahead...

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Whereas I'd love nothing more than for the world to be able to go back to pre-911 rationality,

here , we diverge ,just a wee bit..;-). IMHO.....the Pre-Bush era is what factors in. Sure 9-11 was traumatic and startled the world........but terrorism as such was not new and is not new....and even that event could have been handled much more effectively and without two invasions of foreign countries....IF the focus had been kept on the terrorist issue as such. All bush has done is potentiate more rage at the US .....and therefore more possibility for terrorism......at the US interests, allies, and perhaps the US itself. The root of the anger that is the basis for such dramatic terrorism against the US has NOT been addressed. All that has happened in a cowboy , knee jerk revenge reaction..... and a lot more bloodshed. ........followed by another invasion that had nothing to do with 9-11 (no matter how the deluded want to think).

So , you are right..........this rage is not going to dissapate for some time to come. As long as the USG keeps jerking other nations around the way it is....... the pattern/cycle of violence will continue. Bush makes some lame remark about 9-11 being a wake up call. It might have been to a more intelligent , insightful leader........but with him.......it is just rhetoric as he continued to do what pisses the world / Muslim and other ...off . He is the author of much of all this.......but reality is, that it has been building for some time. USG has been abusing its power for a long time.........but not as much or as obviously as it has since the bushcon took office.

 

[Haggis McBagpipe]

Good point about September 11th, Ocean Breeze. The Bush admin has deliberately instilled fear, and aggressively kept it alive, in order to maintain better control over American citizens, and to continue stripping them of their civil liberties. The fear felt by Americans is 'way out of proportion to reality, but that suits the governent best. Any American who still believes they are living in the 'land of the free and the home of the brave' is either blind or nuts or both.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Re: RE: Feeling a bit... paranoid today?

Good point about September 11th, Ocean Breeze. The Bush admin has deliberately instilled fear, and aggressively kept it alive, in order to maintain better control over American citizens, and to continue stripping them of their civil liberties. The fear felt by Americans is 'way out of proportion to reality, but that suits the governent best. Any American who still believes they are living in the 'land of the free and the home of the brave' is either blind or nuts or both.

H.Mc.: that is exactly the way the scenario pans out.....and it boggles the mind that so many can't SEE it for what it is. Why would so many choose to be "held captive" by the bush ideology?? What is in it for them???? Do they REALLY believe that bush can keep them "safe"........and from what exactly??? How many more security measures must be put in place before they start to relax ??? How much more are they willing to compromize to the bushcon gov't..... in order to feel a sense of false security.??? False security is all it would be.......and it seems the "they" now must get used to being despised by the rest of the world........( a generality ....I realize)....and targetted in rage for how it (USG) has been treating other nations for some time now. All this has simply reached climactic proportions now.------- Seems too, that "they" have a choice: Do seome serious self appraisal and modify their own behavior/attitude to the world at large OR adapt to living in an ever restrictive society now......

Seems too.........that "they" must get out of the immature "blame game" and start taking responsibility for their own actions.....with obvious signals towards behavior change. They demand, others to tow the line to their wishes......and yet do nothing to cooperate or accomodate for a more peaceful co-existence.

(just some wee haggis thoughts on all this ;-)

 

[Haggis McBagpipe]

Re: RE: Feeling a bit... paranoid today?

Ocean, here are some wavy thoughts back atcha,

You ask why so many choose to be held captive by the Bush ideology, well, I think it comes back to what I mentioned earlier: Americans were, pre-September 11th, casting about looking for a reason to once again feel proud, they wanted a purpose, they wanted something to believe in once again. They wanted to know their lives had meaning.

When people are in such a state of flux, they are especially susceptible to rhetoric, messages that tell them they are perfect just as they are. Bush just had to say hey, look! it's us against them, trust in me and you can believe once again, you can be proud to be American, 'God Bless America!'

Look at the way some of the more dangerous religious cults such as the Moonies scoop up converts, they specifically go after those who are in a troubled state of mind and at loose ends with their lives: teens, bereaved ones, new divorcees, etc.. Well, Americans needed something, and Bush gave it to them. A chance to believe in something... and without even the burden of having to think about it. It was a formula that comes with a guarantee of success.

 

[annabattler]

RE: Feeling a bit... para

It's all about focusing attention "away" from the homeland...by pretending someone else is a threat to your 'domestic" peace.
Handy way to make the general populace "forget' the home grown issues(education,health care ,employment,deficits,etc) that desperately need attention.
And.might I add, a very convenient way for the armament manufacturers to reap even more profits.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

H.Mc and anna:

Excellent points. Shows a depth of comprehension not seen in a while. Something about the society as a whole....and collective thought processes. (group mentality etc)

And "they" probably cannot "see" this process because they are are PART of it ......and cannot be objective about it. ( as in seeing it from a "distance" -objectively).

Interesting...