Wow...didn't think I would get this much feedback....about the fear part, I live in Philadelphia, in which the murder rate is the highest this year since 1990...I didn't know this before I came here. So I admit the first couple of weeks I was somewhat scared. But I soon realized that as long as you are aware of your surroundings (i.e - not in an alley in the ghetto at 2 in the morning), there is no need to worry too much...and most acts of violence are isolated incidents (two people get into a heated arguements, one pulls a gun out etc.) Also, there are so many people here and I'm sure there are some people who wish harm to America but, if you're living in fear then you're not really living at all and you're giving those people what they want....I remember there was a shooting in Toronto at the Eaton's Center last year, but people didn't stop going there...I guess I see both sides, most people don't live in fear but as a citizen of another country when you first come here it can be intimidating.
i live in an area where most people carry guns. the biggest police story in the paper this year was a barking dog. i'm not sure what it's like to live in fear but i hear a lot of people here (the forum) talk about it. i've never experienced most of what i hear about america here so take that with a grain of salt. i've never had to lock my doors so if you get the chance; travel and see the entire picture. an american is only someone from another country who migrated to try to find a better life.
I prefer calling him hatemonger. Because hate is what he preaches. I know very few scared americans. America is indeed the greatest nation on earth, and the best place to live. Not everyone in america lives in the tiny box of fear percieved to exist by NON americans. Thanks, and have a great day.
don't know any scared Americans? Know any republicans? The entire party's ideology is based on fear. "Peace through strength" as they put it, an oxymoron really, but the idea is the whole world is out to get us so we better get them first. And the majority of people who vote republican buy into that idea...and incidentally are the ones most negatively affected by their policies at home.
don't know any scared Americans? Know any republicans? The entire party's ideology is based on fear. "Peace through strength" as they put it, an oxymoron really, but the idea is the whole world is out to get us so we better get them first. And the majority of people who vote republican buy into that idea...and incidentally are the ones most negatively affected by their policies at home.
why does awareness have to be mistaken for fear? 9/11 was an unprovoked attack
walk down certain streets of LA in a red hat and you'll be attacked. walk through certain areas in a fur coat and you'll be attacked. you can be attacked almost anywhere for any reason.
bin ladin's orders were to kill all those not islam. so to answer your question; we were attacked because we were/are not islam.
don't know any scared Americans? Know any republicans? The entire party's ideology is based on fear. "Peace through strength" as they put it, an oxymoron really, but the idea is the whole world is out to get us so we better get them first. And the majority of people who vote republican buy into that idea...and incidentally are the ones most negatively affected by their policies at home.
Commy is only partly right. Peace through strength was a tennant of the cold war, Reagan era. Before that we lived with MAD - Mutally Assured Destruction. This is nothing new, and a game both Dem and Rep governments have supported.
And lots of ideologies are based on fear. Environmentalists use fear as a tool. Economists use fear as a tool. Campaigns are spun negatively to give worst case scenarios. The use of fear isn't limited to any particular party or ideology or country.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
The thing about fear and our leaders manipulating it is that the large majority of people have been taught to repress their emotions. Therefore people think they have no fear. In the meantime, they mistake the repressed fear that they look at unwittingly through their filters, as being all about those bad guys in other countries who must be stopped. "no, my friends, family and I have NO fear and never have...". Such statements are the surest sign of repressed fear. Realistic understanding of fear is represented by recognizing that we sometimes have it, sometimes don't.
Much of the trickery in politics, advertising, everything hinges on the fact that such fears are unconscious in the large majority and beyond general awareness.
This is the reason this quote is so profound:
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
-hermann goering
Those "in the know" are few and far between. Those who are denying their emotions are open game for such ploys.
"The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr
oh, and when we put blinders on our fears an interesting things happens: We are oblivious to our own fear and to the fears around us--we've blocked it....but those who are aware of or conscious of their own fears, they don't have the fear-block. So they can see the fear in others quite clearly. When we block fear, it does not go away. We hide our own awareness of it. And we continue to act out our fears to our own obliviousness, while others see what we are doing.
"The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr
Those "in the know" are few and far between. Those who are denying their emotions are open game for such ploys.
Pop-psych babble.
So those of us who said we aren't afraid are actually in denial and are the ones most open to the fear mongering. Those who admit they're afraid are the ones who will least be swayed by their emotions of fear?? WTF?
So we basically can't win. We're either all afraid, or we're not afraid, but really quite afraid and vulnerable.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
So those of us who said we aren't afraid are actually in denial and are the ones most open to the fear mongering. Those who admit they're afraid are the ones who will least be swayed by their emotions of fear?? WTF?
So we basically can't win. We're either all afraid, or we're not afraid, but really quite afraid and vulnerable.
Lying to one's self is lying to one's self. Denial. Like I said, to say one or ones friends, neighbours etc. do not feel fear is ludicrous and unrealistic. It's like saying you don't see the colour green. Either you acknowledge green when you see it, or you don't. To say you never see green indicates some form of denial.
People who face their fears learn to deal with them. People who deny them stay trapped because by not facing them, they do not learn healthy ways to cope with them, and therefore they will continue to go unconscious where they exist beyond one's control. It is integration of one's experiences that leads to realism, not denial. Your all or nothing view of the subject shows a lack of understanding of integration.
Like I say, the majority remains unconscious of their emotions. It's where we are evolutionarily at this time.
"The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr
why does awareness have to be mistaken for fear? 9/11 was an unprovoked attack
When there is a chance one might be attacked, and one feels fear, that is 100% normal and 100% healthy. Such awareness and acknowledgement of fear serves the purpose of alerting us to potential danger. It's an evolutionarily sound response (which is why we evolved the emotional response of fear) which first alarms us, and then pushes us to resolve the problem because we are rightfully alarmed.
Where we are stunted in our evolution right now is that we feel the fear, deny it and start railing on the other guy because we feel more strong when we're being agressive, than when we are vulnerable and facing our fears. The other guy is bad, he's doing this and that, blah, blah. We've got to get him back! All the while we actually INCREASE the chances of future problems. This is the OPPOSITE of resolving problems. We deny our natural evolutionary tools including our emotional intelligence, we get the consequences, being a lack of problem solving ability. And then we feel we must justify our own lack (that we are unaware of) by blaming someone else for our problems. In the meantime things will escalate until we learn the hard way, through more "unprovoked attacks", war, death and destruction.
"The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr
Lying to one's self is lying to one's self. Denial. Like I said, to say one or ones friends, neighbours etc. do not feel fear is ludicrous and unrealistic. It's like saying you don't see the colour green. Either you acknowledge green when you see it, or you don't. To say you never see green indicates some form of denial.
People who face their fears learn to deal with them. People who deny them stay trapped because by not facing them, they do not learn healthy ways to cope with them, and therefore they will continue to go unconscious where they exist beyond one's control. It is integration of one's experiences that leads to realism, not denial. Your all or nothing view of the subject shows a lack of understanding of integration.
Like I say, the majority remains unconscious of their emotions. It's where we are evolutionarily at this time.
It is a clever trap you've set - requiring all of us to fear. Those who know it and those who don't only differ in their self-awareness?
You may have fear. You may think you're winning, because you recognize your fear and are dealing with it. And it probably makes you feel better thinking everyone else fears as well, so you're not alone.
Realism is exactly the point. I am realistic. I don't fear going certain places because I'm realistic enough not to go to them. I don't fear a terrorist attack on my home because I'm realistic enough to know the odds are infinitesimal. Perhaps we're using words in unintended ways.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
It is a clever trap you've set - requiring all of us to fear. Those who know it and those who don't only differ in their self-awareness?
You may have fear. You may think you're winning, because you recognize your fear and are dealing with it. And it probably makes you feel better thinking everyone else fears as well, so you're not alone.
Realism is exactly the point. I am realistic. I don't fear going certain places because I'm realistic enough not to go to them. I don't fear a terrorist attack on my home because I'm realistic enough to know the odds are infinitesimal. Perhaps we're using words in unintended ways.
It's our brain wiring and our emotions that require us to fear. If it makes you feel better to put that off on me, I call that a distinct form of denial.
Denial is not realism. It's the opposite, my friend.
And as is the point that is being made about this fear, your fear is evident despite your denial of it. If you are staying home, and being "realistic" and not going to certain places, I know what that means, even though you are denying your apparently unconscious emotions with "rationalizations".
The things is when we learn to face our fears, we also learn which fears are rational and which are not. Shutting them out completely, we prevent ourselves from running them through "higher" logical processes.
"The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr
The things is when we learn to face our fears, we also learn which fears are rational and which are not.
OK, so we're probably just going to go around in circles - owing to my apparent issues of denial. But back to the main premise, and based on your comment above, if we know which fears are not rational, do we still fear those things?
Say I've faced my fears of terrorism, decided that it isn't rational. Some foreigner comes here and says - most americans live in fear. What is my response? Yes, we do, but we understand that they aren't rational? That seems a bit unstable. Or - No we don't, we've dealt with those fears and dismissed them? Well, if I say no, then am I not in denial?
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
OK, so we're probably just going to go around in circles - owing to my apparent issues of denial. But back to the main premise, and based on your comment above, if we know which fears are not rational, do we still fear those things?
Say I've faced my fears of terrorism, decided that it isn't rational. Some foreigner comes here and says - most americans live in fear. What is my response? Yes, we do, but we understand that they aren't rational? That seems a bit unstable. Or - No we don't, we've dealt with those fears and dismissed them? Well, if I say no, then am I not in denial?
We can't effectively decide that something (terrorism fears, for example) is rational with a blanket generalization. Each fear must be faced on it's own merits given the situation it arises in. Each terrorism issue as well. Therefore it becomes an ongoing process. That's why a blanket generalized statement regarding fear reveals itself as not rational. It shows that unconscious emotions are distorting rational processes. If I were an American I would opt not to perpetuate stereotypes either way--ie: we're all afraid; we're all not afraid. You're certainly entitled to your personal appraisal as your subjective opinion though, as to your own and the levels of fear around you.
I do greatly appreciate your logical and rational ability to discuss such issues, jeffbr.
"The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth." ~ Niels Bohr
don't know any scared Americans? Know any republicans? The entire party's ideology is based on fear. "Peace through strength" as they put it, an oxymoron really, but the idea is the whole world is out to get us so we better get them first. And the majority of people who vote republican buy into that idea...and incidentally are the ones most negatively affected by their policies at home.
You buy this crap hook line and sinker commy. I know PLENTY of Republicans. Very few seem scared in their lives. I also know plenty of liberals, and they, quite frankly, seem scared of EVERYTHING.
Ok...so I lived in Canada my whole life until 2 months ago when I moved here to the US for school. I must say, despite the crime, bullshit politics, and capitalism to the max, I am really enjoying my time here...this really is a beautiful country and people don't give it much credit. Canadians seem to have this preconception that Americans are all un-intelligent, self-indulgent people but I've met so many nice, decent people and has really changed my view of the US..just thought I'd say this because I see alot of negativity towards the US these days...
Nice to have you here. Enjoy your time...there are many wonders in this great nation.
You buy this crap hook line and sinker commy. I know PLENTY of Republicans. Very few seem scared in their lives. I also know plenty of liberals, and they, quite frankly, seem scared of EVERYTHING.
that's becasue might may make right????? just a hello to ya, plates..
all insanity:
a derivitive of nature.
nature is god
god is love
love is light
Comments
i live in an area where most people carry guns. the biggest police story in the paper this year was a barking dog. i'm not sure what it's like to live in fear but i hear a lot of people here (the forum) talk about it. i've never experienced most of what i hear about america here so take that with a grain of salt. i've never had to lock my doors so if you get the chance; travel and see the entire picture. an american is only someone from another country who migrated to try to find a better life.
I hear PJ loves Newfoundland...;) I never knew anyone famous being a Newfie, male or female, it's pretty awesome to hear about it!
don't know any scared Americans? Know any republicans? The entire party's ideology is based on fear. "Peace through strength" as they put it, an oxymoron really, but the idea is the whole world is out to get us so we better get them first. And the majority of people who vote republican buy into that idea...and incidentally are the ones most negatively affected by their policies at home.
why does awareness have to be mistaken for fear? 9/11 was an unprovoked attack
Why were we attacked?
walk down certain streets of LA in a red hat and you'll be attacked. walk through certain areas in a fur coat and you'll be attacked. you can be attacked almost anywhere for any reason.
bin ladin's orders were to kill all those not islam. so to answer your question; we were attacked because we were/are not islam.
LOL!!!!
"Peace through strength"....amazing.....
Commy is only partly right. Peace through strength was a tennant of the cold war, Reagan era. Before that we lived with MAD - Mutally Assured Destruction. This is nothing new, and a game both Dem and Rep governments have supported.
And lots of ideologies are based on fear. Environmentalists use fear as a tool. Economists use fear as a tool. Campaigns are spun negatively to give worst case scenarios. The use of fear isn't limited to any particular party or ideology or country.
Much of the trickery in politics, advertising, everything hinges on the fact that such fears are unconscious in the large majority and beyond general awareness.
This is the reason this quote is so profound:
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
-hermann goering
Those "in the know" are few and far between. Those who are denying their emotions are open game for such ploys.
http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta
Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta
Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
Pop-psych babble.
So those of us who said we aren't afraid are actually in denial and are the ones most open to the fear mongering. Those who admit they're afraid are the ones who will least be swayed by their emotions of fear?? WTF?
So we basically can't win. We're either all afraid, or we're not afraid, but really quite afraid and vulnerable.
Lying to one's self is lying to one's self. Denial. Like I said, to say one or ones friends, neighbours etc. do not feel fear is ludicrous and unrealistic. It's like saying you don't see the colour green. Either you acknowledge green when you see it, or you don't. To say you never see green indicates some form of denial.
People who face their fears learn to deal with them. People who deny them stay trapped because by not facing them, they do not learn healthy ways to cope with them, and therefore they will continue to go unconscious where they exist beyond one's control. It is integration of one's experiences that leads to realism, not denial. Your all or nothing view of the subject shows a lack of understanding of integration.
Like I say, the majority remains unconscious of their emotions. It's where we are evolutionarily at this time.
http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta
Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
if you have a very short memory-say a week or so-then yeah i suppose you could say it was unprovoked.
When there is a chance one might be attacked, and one feels fear, that is 100% normal and 100% healthy. Such awareness and acknowledgement of fear serves the purpose of alerting us to potential danger. It's an evolutionarily sound response (which is why we evolved the emotional response of fear) which first alarms us, and then pushes us to resolve the problem because we are rightfully alarmed.
Where we are stunted in our evolution right now is that we feel the fear, deny it and start railing on the other guy because we feel more strong when we're being agressive, than when we are vulnerable and facing our fears. The other guy is bad, he's doing this and that, blah, blah. We've got to get him back! All the while we actually INCREASE the chances of future problems. This is the OPPOSITE of resolving problems. We deny our natural evolutionary tools including our emotional intelligence, we get the consequences, being a lack of problem solving ability. And then we feel we must justify our own lack (that we are unaware of) by blaming someone else for our problems. In the meantime things will escalate until we learn the hard way, through more "unprovoked attacks", war, death and destruction.
http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta
Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
It is a clever trap you've set - requiring all of us to fear. Those who know it and those who don't only differ in their self-awareness?
You may have fear. You may think you're winning, because you recognize your fear and are dealing with it. And it probably makes you feel better thinking everyone else fears as well, so you're not alone.
Realism is exactly the point. I am realistic. I don't fear going certain places because I'm realistic enough not to go to them. I don't fear a terrorist attack on my home because I'm realistic enough to know the odds are infinitesimal. Perhaps we're using words in unintended ways.
It's our brain wiring and our emotions that require us to fear. If it makes you feel better to put that off on me, I call that a distinct form of denial.
Denial is not realism. It's the opposite, my friend.
And as is the point that is being made about this fear, your fear is evident despite your denial of it. If you are staying home, and being "realistic" and not going to certain places, I know what that means, even though you are denying your apparently unconscious emotions with "rationalizations".
The things is when we learn to face our fears, we also learn which fears are rational and which are not. Shutting them out completely, we prevent ourselves from running them through "higher" logical processes.
http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta
Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
OK, so we're probably just going to go around in circles - owing to my apparent issues of denial. But back to the main premise, and based on your comment above, if we know which fears are not rational, do we still fear those things?
Say I've faced my fears of terrorism, decided that it isn't rational. Some foreigner comes here and says - most americans live in fear. What is my response? Yes, we do, but we understand that they aren't rational? That seems a bit unstable. Or - No we don't, we've dealt with those fears and dismissed them? Well, if I say no, then am I not in denial?
We can't effectively decide that something (terrorism fears, for example) is rational with a blanket generalization. Each fear must be faced on it's own merits given the situation it arises in. Each terrorism issue as well. Therefore it becomes an ongoing process. That's why a blanket generalized statement regarding fear reveals itself as not rational. It shows that unconscious emotions are distorting rational processes. If I were an American I would opt not to perpetuate stereotypes either way--ie: we're all afraid; we're all not afraid. You're certainly entitled to your personal appraisal as your subjective opinion though, as to your own and the levels of fear around you.
I do greatly appreciate your logical and rational ability to discuss such issues, jeffbr.
http://www.myspace.com/illuminatta
Rhinocerous Surprise '08!!!
You buy this crap hook line and sinker commy. I know PLENTY of Republicans. Very few seem scared in their lives. I also know plenty of liberals, and they, quite frankly, seem scared of EVERYTHING.
www.myspace.com/jensvad
Nice to have you here. Enjoy your time...there are many wonders in this great nation.
a derivitive of nature.
nature is god
god is love
love is light