In today’s New York Times, Paul Krugman writes a post on the Paris tragedy and nailed it.
Again, the goal of terrorists is to inspire terror, because that’s all they’re capable of. And the most important thing our societies can do in response is to refuse to give in to fear.
I agree wholeheartedly.
FiftyFourandAHalf 
whole-heartedly…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Art!
LikeLike
no… thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with his idea, but I also think they work to increase cultural alienation and distrust and that is the last thing we need more of at this time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree with that statement too. It is awfully complicated. But I think it is so important that we not lose ourselves in the battle against them.
LikeLike
People have always been vulnerable to fear. The speed and quality of the media just make it more effective these days. As it happens, I came across a discussion of Why Do They Hate Us? a few days ago and posted the clip. The discussion was among Bill Maher, Jay Leno, Michael Steele (a Republican no less) and some other guy. They nailed it too – they all agreed. FDR is somewhere, nodding sagely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have to look at that.
Question for you in your former capacity in the navy. What’s the room where flight crews wait to see their flight assignments. (For another post I’m drafting in my head. My dad called it something, but I can’t recall.)
LikeLike
Naval aviators call it a ready room.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It was driving me crazy. I could have googled it, but I knew you’d know. (My dad was a gunner in the Pacific in WWII — SB Dauntless)
LikeLiked by 1 person
My father was a welder in the Douglas aircraft plant in Tulsa Oklahoma during world war two. Maybe he built your dads airplane.?
LikeLike
That would be cool, wouldn’t it! I’m just going to assume it happened, because why not! Serendipity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And now I guess I have to write the story!
LikeLike
That sums it up well. I was watching the news yesterday and they were showing all the lines of “special police” lined up as security at sporting events here in the U.S. and I wondered if we’re going to let fear drive us into being and accepting a police state.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Again. We did after 9/11.
LikeLike
Shit heels. I hate those guys. I really, really hate those guys. I’ll be more gregarious next week but this week, I really hate those guys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. But still, we can’t give them what they want — our fear. Our hate, they get that without reservation.
LikeLike
Too late.
LikeLike
Cheer up. Think of all the other — far more likely ways any of us can kick the bucket. Besides, they’ve announced that DC is the target, not NYC.
LikeLike
That’s a big dish of cold comfort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fear is a normal and natural response to these cowardly attacks. And then we need to muster our better angels. Because otherwise, they win. And that is unacceptable.
(BTW, I was once trying to comfort my son who was worried about dying from a rogue deer attacking him. I went through the statistics and told him that he was much more likely to be hit by a meteor. The next day, literally, someone was. but still, I comforted him; it wasn’t you.)
I guess that little story doesn’t help, does it.
LikeLike
I’ll never understand how so many people cannot understand how our reactions so frequently play into the hands of the terrorists. It’s just stunning. Our country needs a good stiff upper lip. Instead, our chin keeps a-quivering. It’s okay to feel fear at this stuff, but we can’t let that fear allow us to betray our values and betraying our values always seems to be the first and only option for so many.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You summed it up perfectly. Perfectly.
And the fears are so debilitating!
LikeLike
The situation (in its entirety) is huge and complex. Thanks for pointing me to Krugman;s column.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We cannot give in. We also cannot allow ourselves to become small.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I read a blog piece at lunch that really disturbed me. A person who has always seemed sensitive, etc. advocating for closed borders.
As if terrorists were the only danger in life. Or as if anybody got out of life alive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I have seen a few of those. It frightens me. This is where we were after 9/11.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Which is exactly why things got worse IMHO.
LikeLike
No, we can’t give into it. Then they’ve won. So we still go out and do the things we normally would. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t scope out places more carefully before I enter them, or check out the people entering for any suspicious behaviors. It’s a shame we have to do this at places as innocent as movie theaters. And getting into a Cavs game now? Talk about tight security. And during every break or time-out, security and police line up on the court, all around its perimeter. Is quite the sight to see. So I guess in that sense, the terrorists unfortunately have their victory.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe they’ve won the battle?
It makes perfect sense to be vigilant — just like when we walk alone at night, when we zip up our purses against pickpockets. when we buckle our seatbelts. All wise, normal precautions.
But I’ve always thought that we got pushed into too many questionable activities following 9/11 — starting with government-sanctioned torture (which of course resulted in — surprise, surprise — more terrorists! Who would have/could have guessed THAT would happen?
oy. I am off to write another post … becaause, of course, the world is waiting breathlessly for my words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are! Your posts are always a joy to read. (Especially since my views align with yours. 😉 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny how that works, ain’t it? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh .. it is not forming. Maybe I need to sleep on this one!
LikeLike
Sleep is good for whatever ails us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I thought you’d prescribe drugs! 😉
LikeLike
Ha, only if absolutely necessary. I don’t even like taking Ibuprofen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That about sums it up, simply and succinctly. Did you notice how much the audience behind FDR was milling about restlessly? I’ve never seen that happen in modern-day inaugural speeches. Nowadays everyone sits very still and stolid. Interesting how times change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re more polite today? THAT’s hard to believe.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It also looked like a very cold day. Maybe they were shuffling around on their feet just to stay warm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the speech was very long.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only thing we have to fear is very long speeches on a very cold day.
LikeLiked by 1 person