The Only thing we have to fear: Part One
I’ve begun to believe that the gears that keep American society turning are powered by unnecessary and often exaggerated fear. I blame this on two things: the media and our own inability to tolerate set-backs.
I think that the media has managed to virtually cripple our society by concentrating on the negative and creating the impression that it is somehow possible for the world to be a fair place. It has created a nation of victims.
There have always been natural disasters, fatal illnesses, economic uncertainties, murder and mayhem. What has changed is the media has gone from reporting the story to trying to make the story.
Prior to radio, television and the internet, news traveled slowly. Tornadoes came and went, women died from childbirth, the family farm went into foreclosure. People expected that life was uncertain and they dealt with it. They made decisions on how to move forward, picked themselves up, brushed themselves off and did the best they could. Now, the story is not over until there is someone to blame…or better yet, someone to sue.
That’s why our kids can’t play on the playground at recess, obstetricians are opting out because they can’t guarantee a healthy baby, and McDonald’s serves lukewarm coffee. Our society cannot function without people warning us of every possible pitfall…and if there is not something to be frightened of at the moment… they’ll dig until they find it.
Take Global Warming for instance. Is it true that the ozone layer is being deteriorated and in a half million years we’re all going to burn up? Perhaps, but, did it ever occur to you that it happened after the Ice Age and not a lot of people were using Aqua Net?
There is not always a cause, a culprit or a cure.
The constant barrage of news has taught us to live in fear of the unforeseen ‘what ifs’. What if I lose my job? What if there is a hurricane and the government doesn’t bail me out? What if there is an epidemic and we don’t have a vaccine? Our sense of security is stripped away not by the fact that disaster might befall us—but, by the fact that someone else is in control of our destiny if it does.
By saturating us with a constant influx of bad news and impending disasters, and by encouraging a victim mentality, the media has stripped us of the self-sufficiency that is our reassurance in difficult times. The result of that is fearfulness and uncertainty.
I rarely watch the news. I like to assume that the world is a better place than they would have us believe. If I see someone hurting, I try and help. If I could end wars and world hunger, I would do it in a heartbeat. The hard and sad truth is that, usually the things that change people’s lives rarely make the news—whether that’s here in Michigan or in some remote village in Africa. Their celebrations and tragedies are for the most part confined to their little corner of the world and they learn to make the best of it…it’s not pretty…it just is. We live and we die. It is how the world has always worked…even before CNN.
I think that the media has managed to virtually cripple our society by concentrating on the negative and creating the impression that it is somehow possible for the world to be a fair place. It has created a nation of victims.
There have always been natural disasters, fatal illnesses, economic uncertainties, murder and mayhem. What has changed is the media has gone from reporting the story to trying to make the story.
Prior to radio, television and the internet, news traveled slowly. Tornadoes came and went, women died from childbirth, the family farm went into foreclosure. People expected that life was uncertain and they dealt with it. They made decisions on how to move forward, picked themselves up, brushed themselves off and did the best they could. Now, the story is not over until there is someone to blame…or better yet, someone to sue.
That’s why our kids can’t play on the playground at recess, obstetricians are opting out because they can’t guarantee a healthy baby, and McDonald’s serves lukewarm coffee. Our society cannot function without people warning us of every possible pitfall…and if there is not something to be frightened of at the moment… they’ll dig until they find it.
Take Global Warming for instance. Is it true that the ozone layer is being deteriorated and in a half million years we’re all going to burn up? Perhaps, but, did it ever occur to you that it happened after the Ice Age and not a lot of people were using Aqua Net?
There is not always a cause, a culprit or a cure.
The constant barrage of news has taught us to live in fear of the unforeseen ‘what ifs’. What if I lose my job? What if there is a hurricane and the government doesn’t bail me out? What if there is an epidemic and we don’t have a vaccine? Our sense of security is stripped away not by the fact that disaster might befall us—but, by the fact that someone else is in control of our destiny if it does.
By saturating us with a constant influx of bad news and impending disasters, and by encouraging a victim mentality, the media has stripped us of the self-sufficiency that is our reassurance in difficult times. The result of that is fearfulness and uncertainty.
I rarely watch the news. I like to assume that the world is a better place than they would have us believe. If I see someone hurting, I try and help. If I could end wars and world hunger, I would do it in a heartbeat. The hard and sad truth is that, usually the things that change people’s lives rarely make the news—whether that’s here in Michigan or in some remote village in Africa. Their celebrations and tragedies are for the most part confined to their little corner of the world and they learn to make the best of it…it’s not pretty…it just is. We live and we die. It is how the world has always worked…even before CNN.
posted by LoriCloud at 11:54 AM
3 Comments:
I listen less and less to the news. I still try and catch the weather though, of course I'll probably die watching that....and at this time with the elections coming up, all you hear are people degrading each other.....I don't know who to believe......but what really gets me is you never seem to hear about the good things that the teenagers have done, or anyone else in fact....even the soldiers that have helped so many over seas...we just hear about the death.... The news media certainly does put the fear in us, some things we do have to know, but let's face it, it's out of our hands......very interesting point Lori......you always seem to check your facts, and I'm so proud of you....
"I think that the media has managed to virtually cripple our society by concentrating on the negative..."
That pretty much nails it. One interesting thing to note is when the media get exposed. Case in point: The Iraq War. Recently we had some Guard Units return home from Iraq and when asked by the local journalists what the strangest thing about coming home was, nearly all of them said reading the reportage about the war. They bitterly complained that all the media report about are bombs and body bags, nothing about the good they are doing over there. Great post.
Mark from "The Viceroy's Fuguestate" p.s. xb234c is my blogspot username
Lori, as usual you speak from my heart.
If there is one single thing that I would say about the US since I moved here a year ago it would be its fear-driven culture. And not just the media, it's also the pharma industry's advertising scaring us into buying their products, or the nice weathergirl that's been replaced by the ominous STORM team!
When my husband's son told us the other day about the ban on playing during recess I was astonished. If we take away our kids ability to learn from their mistakes and 'falls' what will they grow into? A generation who lives in fear and expects the 'state' to protect them? This seems very wrong to me.
Very well written post.
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