Today, I thought we’d take a break from the harsh world of ICD-10 codes, questionable research findings, and allopathic versus alternative and talk about … terrorism.
Yep. Unbeknownst to many, the Supreme Court ruled this past summer (5 to 4, of course) that all media, whether print, electronic, or social, must include at least 1 article designed to instigate fear that the end is somehow near, even though it isn’t. So, this is my personal contribution to world jitters. Sit back and enjoy!
First of all, let’s look at the very word terrorism, which breaks down into terror, meaning “terror,” and ism, meaning “it’s all about.” From this, we realize that those engaged in this act are simply trying to forward their personal agendas by making someone else afraid. Simple, right? We all do it at one time or another, including the person who penned “He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s going to find out who’s naughty and nice.” Better be good, kids, or no presents for Christmas! Every child’s nightmare.
Here are a few other examples of national homegrown terrorism:
“The banks are too big to fail!”
“Barack Obama is a Muslim!”
“They’re going to take our guns away!”
“They’re not going to take our guns away!”
“Syrian refugees are full of sleeper cells, even though there is absolutely no proof!”
“Mexicans are rapists!”
“Planned Parenthood is for killing babies!”
“Donald Trump will make this country great again!” (OK, this one actually scares me.)
“All cops are bad!”
“All cops are good!”
“Bernie Sanders is a Socialist!” Well, maybe that one’s true …
Boring? Here are a few closer to home:
“Alternative medicine is a dangerous sham!”
“Conventional medicine will kill you!”
“Homeopathy doesn’t work!”
“Chemotherapy doesn’t work!”
“The word medicine means MD-centric and we have to change it!”
“I support naturopathic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine, and—wait a minute …”
“The conventional medicine system is a failure and we have to get rid of it!”
“But first we have to get covered by Medicare, and traditional insurance, and ICD-10 codes, and get accepted by conventional state medical societies!”
Still a little too far from home? OK, try these:
“Eat your vegetables or you won’t grow up strong!”
“Wait until your father gets home!”
“If you don’t change, I’ll leave you!”
“If you change, I’ll leave you!”
“I’m going to change and then leave you!”
“You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry …”—Oh wait, we’ve used that one …
Terrorism, terrorism, terrorism.
Sigh. Basically, the strategy of terrorists is to achieve their agendas by spreading fear (terror). Those in fear make poor choices, become internally divided, target innocent groups, elect leaders who use that fear to get elected, and essentially experience internal disintegration. This is exactly what the terrorists are trying to achieve and exactly what is happening in this country. They cannot win militarily, so they choose this other strategy, and it is working.
I, for the life of me, cannot understand why we are falling for this. We were in a hell of lot more danger during World War II, with Hitler taking over Europe and Hirohito conquering the South Pacific. Yet our parents, under President Franklin Roosevelt, did not fall for this terror, but they united instead of becoming divided and won. And the singular time an ethnic group was targeted in this country—the Japanese Americans—is considered one of our most shameful moments in history.
Back when newspaper cartoons were works of art, Walt Kelly’s wise possum Pogo famously stated, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” There is a simple cure for terrorism, and it is to not be afraid. Then the terrorists’ strategy fails, every time, and they will stop.
Stop being afraid, people. Of terrorists, of politicians, of refugees, of vegetables, of each other. Just stop …