I remember living through the 70's and the perpetual threat of being blown-up in some random IRA attack.
The distinct difference this time is the way governments have pedalled it as an excuse to restrict freedoms.
Any phobia or paranoia felt by individuals is more to do with government manipulation of public perceptions than any real risk to life. I'm not saying there is zero risk but how we deal with it speaks volumes about the kind of people we are willing to let our governments turn us into.
MM
The distinct difference this time is the way governments have pedalled it as an excuse to restrict freedoms.
Any phobia or paranoia felt by individuals is more to do with government manipulation of public perceptions than any real risk to life. I'm not saying there is zero risk but how we deal with it speaks volumes about the kind of people we are willing to let our governments turn us into.
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
