"Fearful people are more dependent, more easily manipulated and controlled,
more susceptible to deceptively simple, strong, tough measures and hard-line
postures. . . . They may accept and even welcome repression if it promises
to relieve their insecurities." George Gerbner
more susceptible to deceptively simple, strong, tough measures and hard-line
postures. . . . They may accept and even welcome repression if it promises
to relieve their insecurities." George Gerbner
A month or so ago, I read State of Fear by Michael Crichton. I am not normally a reader of Crichton's books. Too techie for me in general; but I felt I should read this one because it was about global warming and taking an opposing view to a lot of what is being put forth. I was surprised to find I did enjoy the book and I believe it had some valid points that are worth considering whether you are a believer in global warming as a catastrophe waiting to happen, whether you think it's a natural cycle, or whether you think it's all an environmentalist plot to block successful industries.
State of Fear is a reminder of how fear manipulates. It should remind us how statistics can be misused and to warn us that because someone says 2 + 2 = 5 does not make it so. It warns us that ruthless people are willing to use anything to gain their way. In the book it's environmentalists but it could just as well be any other body with an agenda that becomes more important than 'how' you get there.
We are bombarded by things to be afraid of and over and over told disaster awaits if we don't trust someone to take care of it. Terrorism, pandemic, catastrophic storms, mad cow disease and on and on. Add to it our personal lives, where we have even more fears-- disease, aging parents, job loss, etc.
The movie Good night and Good Luck retelling the story of Edward R. Murrow and his television program challenging Joseph McCarthy has come out on DVD. I recommend it highly for a vivid illustration of how easy it can be for a government to use fear to control; and how we should not assume something is true that we have not checked for ourselves.
When I was growing up, McCarthy had been mostly debunked; and most then seemed to agree his fear mongering in the name of protecting us from Communism had not been right, that he had been caught up in his own power trip. The problem back then went beyond him to a whole mentality that allowed someone to be accused of being a Communist with no real proof. Recently Ann Coulter wrote a book called Treason and as so often happens with what we see as history, she challenged what has been accepted. She said McCarthy was right.
It's not too surprising we'd see such a movement right now given the same patterns that McCarthy followed are being repeated today supposedly to fight terrorism but, it seems to me, are in reality to limit dissent.
It's a scary time but we cannot be swallowed by fear because it's destructive to quality living, to real freedom. The answer to fear is knowledge. McCarthy used lies and innuendos. People didn't check out what he said. We are seeing that repeated today in many arenas. A lot of what was discussed in Good Night and Good Luck is as true today as then-- and as true as it was a hundred or a thousand years before.
Freedom has always required fighting to maintain because there is always someone willing to take it away and to give us good reasons why we should let them.
11 comments:
It's interesting that you end your piece appealing to the fear of the presumed enemies of freedom! You're certainly right about using knowlege (and by implication good judgement) to adjudicate claims that we should be fearful.
I don't know whether Gerbner is quite right. Fear is certainly a great motivator, but for dependent people and dependent types alike. Perhaps large numbers of people feel helpless, and about certain kinds of threats. One has to give fear its due, as does Gavin De Becker in his book The Gift of Fear. Fear is, in the end, a survival mechanism.
Ultimately, the question your post raises is which are we to fear more, terrorism and its related woes or repression? I haven't read Ann Coulter's book, so I don't know precisely what she said. I will say it's one thing to criticize the modus operandi of Joe McCarthy and quite another to say he was wrong about Communism being a threat (and being a very popular political system in Hollywood and elsewhere in American society during McCarthy's time).
"Good Night and Good Luck" is of course an appeal for viewers to fear the McCarthys of the world rather than Communism. Not exactly a novel theme. And if it is timely by way of metaphor, it may be as wrongheaded as Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," which failed its cautionary mission in as much as witches really don't exist, but Communists do and were in an expansionist mode at the time of the play's production. A recent essay finds "Good Night and Good Luck" a sort of failure in as much as it suppresses the very significant fact that Edward R. Murrow himself became a vocal opponent of communism. In the absence of that context, the film is unquestionably misleading.
Getting back to the main point, one can certainly be alert to both the demonstrated threat of terrorism and the possibility that counter measures might threaten liberty.
hi idler.
To start (not the most important area to comment on from what you said, but one) witches are real, just don't have long crooked noses, wear black and fly on broomsticks-- well maybe some of that they don't. *s* If someone, in the time of witch persecution, had admitted to what is done by some today in terms of spells, rituals, fortunetelling, etc. it'd have cost them their lives. Could in some countries even today.
If you haven't seen 'Good night and Good luck for yourself,' give it a try as well as the commentary by Clooney. The film uses wherever possible real text from the time and actual video tapes of say McCarthy and some of the hearings; some of the Republicans who stood against him also. And Eisenhower's video was strong and a warning for today as have been many things he said. As Clooney said in the commentary, it wasn't everything that happened (as is true in any book or movie) but it was a piece of a time that seems relevant to many for today.
There is an acronym for fear that I like-- False Expectations Appearing Real. Not to say that all fear is not based on what could happen but often it works against clear thinking. I agreed with Crichton on how we have to be careful wherever we hear people trying to make us fearful and look to see their real purposes as well as whether what they are saying is true.
I am guessing you are the same Idler as on another blog where I sometimes read your comments; so we know we don't see things the same way but it's always good to read thoughtful dissent. Makes us all think.
Rain, I grant you that witches do exist, though not quite in the way the judges of Salem believed—which is really the point, after all.
I'm sure I'm the same Idler. I've seen you at other blogs too. Just stopped by here for the first time today. Nice place and buena onda, as the Spanish saying goes. Wish I could have been on time for the polygamy thread.
hey, no thread is dead here as long as someone has interest in commenting on it. I have my email set up to notify me with new comments; so for anyone who finds an old topic that is interesting to them, please feel free to comment. I will read it even though I won't always comment as I don't believe we should always rain on someone else's parade. Hmmmm maybe rain is not the right word given it's my name.
Trying again-- I aim to respect what others say, realize there are often (not always) two sides to any issue, and mostly comment when I would like to clarify my own point... usually.. Not that i have any set rule that says I can't :)
I think I'll take you up on that. Kind of busy, but I wrote something a little while ago that is relevant to the discussion. Hope it might be found thought-provoking.
I have not yet seen GOOD NIGHT....but plan on it this weekend. I am starting to think that all of the media dotes on FEAR tactics...wind up the population, and get them scared, then we can have our way with them. I have never been one who follows the way of the masses, I tend to look around and see how what they spew MAY affect my life and environment, and then act accordingly.
Bird flu for example. one would think that the whole world is doomed because a few people have died from a flu-like disease. However if you look at the total population, and the number of people that have actually died, The cahnces of me getting sick are very very slim. I do know of people who are upset, because I feed the birds in my back yard, and they are terrified I will be introducing BIRD flu into the neighborhood. (SHEESH)
I also have a tendency to believe that our government (whom ever is in charge) will in the end have our best interests in mind. Unlike my friend who is so paranoid that he is thinking about leaving the country, and/or living with no ties to any data base, as he thinks we are all doomed.
We may be doomed, but I think not. And since this friend Is retired US Navy, and draws a paycheck every month from them, wether he likes it or not, he IS hooked into a data base. ANd I asked him if he was ready to send his retirement check back every month, and he quickly changed the subject.
I personally will not be afraid at least for today.
(and the ice ages are cyclical!) (sun is going Nova tomorrow!)
(and my toilet water is monitored so they can test for drug use!)
LOLOL Im sorry!
*laughing* Mary Lou :) Good thoughts
oh and btw I also feed the birds. It's the one thing that makes me love winter, when I can start feeding the seed eaters. :) I used to feed hummingbirds also but I am not faithful enough on being here and cleaning out their little feeders; so now I just enjoy them in lesser numbers but at least don't have to worry I made them sick :) I feel as you do about the bird flu-- it's a way to panic us. They mentioned our last pandemic was 1968 and I didn't even know we were in one that year. The media does seem to thrive on trying to generate fear.
Interesting! I had been thinking that the bird flu could be one more attempt to raise our anxiety just to make us closer to panic and ultimate manipulation. Powerless people can bring about change of governments through rumors.
The primary reason I began to study A Course in Miracles back in the 80s was because it suggested there are only two emotions: love and fear. Everything else is nuanced. I have not read the book you mention, but I appreciate your report on it. As for Joe McCarthy, I was being raised in those days in a very liberal household--my dad actually had dabbled in the Communist party himself in the 30s. He was appalled by Joe McCarthy and it can certainly be said now that the man mongered in fear, just as the religious right does. Control the people, at whatever cost. I will rent this movie this weekend. Thanks for recommending it. Coming up for air tonight.
I keep hearing of A Course in Miracles but have not read it. Everytime I look at it, it somehow doesn't register with me but I guess I should look again. Maybe it would now. I have heard before that fear is the opposite of love. They are ruling drives for many people-- one or the other; so can see the logic of them being the two base for everything else. I might write on this again as it would be easy to make it into more than a 'comment.'
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