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* Fear, Terror, and the American Way of Life *

francis, how the hell are ya?

pondering on the recent National Blackout, i've come to realize how much i loathe the
word 'terrorism'. all america worries about these days are the souls of bin laden and
hussein coming back from the dead to haunt out streets, TERRORIZE our children and blow
us up.

we have one eeny teeny NATIONAL blackout and i hear my mom scream, "man, i hope it's not terrorists!" knowing that babs is not too fond of sarcasm, or the 'dreaded terrorists', for that matter, i understood that she was truly a model american citizen, living the classic american motto (cleverly devised by none other that i not ten seconds ago): fear all but uncle sam, who wants YOU to speak english, and FEAR things, like terrorists, and GOVT. CHEESE, but who also wishes you to get a job and seak MORE english, and be a man, not a woman, and be a devout christian. . . and speak english.

propaghanda, my sworn enemy, you have done your duty against my mother, but i still stand!

francis, i ask you this: why are americans, well, i should say: why are many americans so childish as to allow themselves to be brainwiashed into thinking that america is the only thing that matters and that we constantly live in fear of all who are alien to our nation? why can't i stand the words TERRORISM and REGIME and BIO-TERROR and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and JESUS and STUPID AMERICAN? i can't answer the former on my own, pero as for the latter: I'M TOO FUCKING TIRED of hearing and seeing and being forced to believe in EVERY SINGLE one of those words or people. EXCLAMATION POINT!!!!

america needs a change. america needs a make-over. america needs a NEW AMERICA.

i've had enough of the lies, corruption, and deceit ( ah! what a classic trio!). i've had enough trashy white people, living in smalltown, usa, shooting their guns off in the name of america, and beating their kids afterwards (what a stereotype!). and i've had enough of my own family and friends, blindly following our national leaders into the games they play with the world.

i've come to realize that my earlier letters were strongly influenced by my parents, as i would listen to them discuss the war while at dinner as we watched fox news.

i no longer support those beliefs as well as i can no longer support america in its present condition. my core beliefs have changed and i now agree with most of which that you express on your site.when can i truly be proud to be american? and when will the fucking power go back on?

-grandmasta babi t,
formerly known as TERROR HATER, but who you may also know as tommy k.

Hey Tom,

My sincerest apologies for the extended delay; as the beginning of school draws closer, time is becoming more and more scarce.
You've touched on quite an important point when it comes to terrorism. Ever since September 11th proved to Americans that it really can happen to them, terrorism has been a pervasive part of the political climate; our fear of terrorism has become a part of our culture.

Sadly, your mother isn’t the only one who’s first thought was terrorism. Even I was guilty of that, and nearly everyone I spoke to has said the same. I find it somewhat terr…ifying (gotcha) to think just how ingrained the fear of terrorism has become in American’s minds. Perhaps ingrained is not the proper term, but that awareness of terrorism is certainly there; the government’s façade of homeland security and bullshit wars has done its number on the American people- we aren’t supposed to feel safer; we’re supposed to be afraid. And, indeed, we are.

This national Blackout serves as an excellent example; most Americans aren’t worried and don’t care about our outdated electrical system and they aren’t interested in what really caused the blackout, nor are they looking for solutions. They’re just wiping the sweat off their collective brow and releasing a long, unified sigh of “Phew… at least it wasn’t terrorists.”

The problem with fear is that it keeps people in place. When Americans have something to be afraid of: economic depression, terrorism, KILLER BEES, they focus their energies on protecting themselves. They become satisfied simply to be safe from that which threatens their way of life. And thus, the status quo is preserved. Fear is the great tool that has been used time and time again throughout history to keep people from making change. Fear is the opiate of the middle-class, dominating the Nightly News at 7:00 and commandeering the Morning News at 9:00. It’s no secret that politicians use fear to push their own agendas, to take away rights and freedoms (*cough* John Ashcroft *cough*), and to push back the uncomfortable tide of dissent. So, Tom, I stand with you in your hatred for the word terrorism, fear, and the American Stereotype that has become the American Dream. I can only hope that others like us are questioning the overbearing role that these things play in our lives as Americans. And GOD DAMN am I happy that the power is back on.

Cheers, Francis.

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