General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”
"First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. "
Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, Mar. 4, 1933
Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.
Franklin D Roosevelt
What is it that we are being protected from? We are told it is terror. Is it not fear itself that we are being protected from? It is blank and dark and void. It's a canvas by which all manner of reasons can be justified. It is that which we will in time, and with complete certainty surrender inch by inch our very freedoms which are the bane of fear itself.
Fear consumes, fear imprisons, fear defeats.
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)We are not as civilized as we like to think. We are afraid of each other.
So, we create governments to protect us ... from ... well, them.
And if the government fails at protecting us, we get angry.
So the government responds by "protecting us" more.
And we get angry that the government is intruding on our freedoms.
We want to be totally safe. And we want to be totally free. At the same time.
See, I'm not going to hurt anyone, so I should be totally free.
You however, are extremely dangerous, and so I want the government to stop you from hurting me.
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)Despite our evolution and advanced civilization, we as humans are still governed by such basic emotions and needs.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... just what is the defense budget defending?
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)so called protection, this is a farm if not a prison.