Life itself has inherent risks.

[NRaleighLiberal]

We are such a silly species. We battle, war, conquer - form cliques and clubs. We want guaranteed protection, yet get into our cars and text or talk on the phone or speed - we overeat and smoke and drink. I guess it is about each of us making the choice of how or when we go, rather than have it made for us (???)

Terror related deaths and injuries are horrendous. Killing of innocent people for attention, or personal political or religious or whatever agendas - it is unspeakable. But in this world - so diverse, so connected (yet disconnected), so divisive - given the choice of accepting that there is indeed risk - that none of us will be here forever - or allowing the fear to bottle up our lives into something unrecognizable due to so many restrictions and political posturing - I will take more freedom for sure.

And the side effect of this fear - the xenophobia, the hunkering down into more and more tight little cliques, the poorly thought out, reactive comments of various politicians and others - is just as awful - and only increases the risks in the long run.

Which is I guess a long way of shaking my head at life today, and how we react, and what we end up doing.

Sorry if this is word salad - just one of those days.

[villager]

1. Makes sense to me.

Thanks for posting some lunchtime "salad!"

[Shandris]

2. I find it fascinating how the narratives are the same, but the sides flip, when...

...gun control vs terrorism is discussed. That's usually a sign of something (and not a good one).

((Edit: On hindsight, I realized I totally didn't comment on the POINT at all. I agree with this assessment and always have. There is always a degree of risk, and its simultaneously much larger and much smaller than any of us know or want to know.))

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. I do feel that the proposed means used to address the threats of gun violence vs. terrorism....

....are quite different.

Common sense criminal background checks and waiting periods vs. significant intrusion into one's privacy and advocating torture.

I see what you are getting at, but they aren't as similar as one might otherwise think.

[Shandris]

8. Yeah, no disagreement from me there. They're very different.

I was referring more to how, when arguments sound so very similar, particularly on highly diverse topics, you can usually look to a third party to see where that phrase came from. That (media manipulation) was more what I was referring to.

I'm definitely not trying to equate the two topics, and categorically reject any attempt to do so.

[uppityperson]

3. K&r with thanks

I was going to do a similar post titled "FUCK" but better to not be profane.

[Chitown Kev]

4. Which is why I am adamant

about my belief in safer spaces as opposed to "safe spaces"

I love the chaos that exists in the world as well as the autonomy to create whatever "order" out of that chaos that I deem necessary for my well-being...

[randys1]

6. Refugees arent terrorists. Terrorists are terrorists.

GOP is scared, all the time.

It is how they are manipulated.

Tough talkers who are afraid of 3 yr olds.

I loved Cruz calling out the president, wanted to fight him

Ted, Barack would kick your ass

[cyberswede]

7. good post.

[kentuck]

9. kick

[phantom power]

10. Humans are infamously terrible at managing risks in the 'very-unlikely-but-awful' category

We waste huge energies on 'preparing' for very very unlikely things, because they are awful and have a big emotional impact. I would guess that a big fraction of crappy policies and politics have something to do with this.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. Tomato salad?

I 100% agree with what you wrote.

[hunter]

12. Manufactured fears.

It's the business of terrorists and many who claim to be "protecting" us from terrorists.

I don't watch the television news. It reeks of propaganda and spin.

My own community has enough home-brewed gang trouble, aggravated by the drug warriors.

Even with the these horrible terrorist acts in Paris, the per capita murder rate and law enforcement kill rate in my community is greater.

Ideological wars of various sorts keep the business of terror profitable, mostly for those who live in relative safety.