Age of Confusion II

[Infoproliferati]

"We hardly need to be reminded that we are living in an age of confusion—a lot of us have traded in our beliefs for bitterness and cynicism or for a heavy package of despair, or even a quivering portion of hysteria. Opinions can be picked up cheap in the market place while such commodities as courage and fortitude and faith are in alarmingly short supply."
-- Edward R Murrow

This is an excerpt of Ed's essay for the 1950s radio program "This I Believe." During that time, the global fear centered around the spread of communism and the secret development of A or H bombs.

Today those same words couldn't be any more perfect in defining the current state of affairs. This time it is the fear of the spread of Islam and terrorism. The fear of identity loss. The fear of inferiority by default. The fear of difference and change. The fear of the volatility of markets. The fear of corporations and governments. The fear of gays. The fear of evangelicals. The fear of falling behind militarily, educationally, scientifically. The fear of losing voice. The fear of guns or the fear of not having guns. The fear of not having enough security. The fear of the rise of women. The fear of China.

Paradoxically, living in the 1950s was much safer. And to think that decade had its own share of multiple problems. Today fears long suppressed are being unmasked all at once. What an age.

I wonder if the human race has the smart minds to prevent an implosion. Is there a wonder why the global economy is so sick?

[katherine]

Hate stems from fear, and fear stems from ignorance.
Unfortunately ignorance is bliss for many

[biggedon]

Hate stems from fear, and fear stems from ignorance.
Unfortunately ignorance is bliss for many

nice one katherine


and many are content with being ignorant, while they hate the fear of their future

[Infoproliferati]

The ignorant also tend to think they know better than everyone else.