Paranoid Patriotism

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One of the most powerful ways to retain dominance over a people is fear. Tried and true, throughout history, fear is a dictator’s best friend. By keeping subjects afraid, they become malleable, and thus able to succumb, forget, obey and above all, believe.

FBI Director Robert Mueller predicts that there would be “another terrorist attack” against
the United States. “We will not be able to stop it. It is something we all live with.” Sen. Bob Graham, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee adds his startling premonition, “There is a likelihood almost to the point of certainty that over the next say, three to five years, that there will be another terrorist attack inside the US.” However, he also says that “there is no empirical data” that points to a likely time. “We don't know the specifics, the time and the place, but we have great reason to believe that we could be hit anytime in the next few years,” said Sen. Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Senate intelligence panel.

So, we don’t know where, we don’t know when, but someday, somewhere, unavoidably, we will suffer another terrorist attack. All we can do is stock up on plastic wrap and duct tape and hope for the best. This is all propaganda to keep us cowering under the malevolent leadership of George W. Bush. After September 11th, the American public was confused, hurt and, most importantly, outraged. The economy was at an all time low, jobs were vanishing left and right, and many of us suffered the loss of loved ones. Who did we look to? Where did we have to turn to in the face of terror, death and mindless hatred? Right to our government (more terror, death and mindless hatred? Civilian deaths in 9/11: 2,752 Civilian deaths in Iraq war: 13,224. Don’t mess with Texas.) The acts of terrorism and the threat of more to come forged support for a loathed administration solely on the basis of fear. When in fear, people are far more likely to support their current leadership. In times of turmoil, people will want a steadfast leader. War presidents are rarely questioned. However, once the fear begins to subside, rulers may find themselves in quite a pickle. They are no longer the all-powerful defenders, the protectors from evil. What to do now? Create fear? Unthinkable. Interestingly, whenever Bush’s approval ratings have shown a decline, a new terror alert was broadcast. Just a reminder, in case you forgot we were at war. Every time, the warning led to a temporary spike in his ratings. Congressman Jim McDermott says “...you make them afraid by creating an aura of endless threat. They played us like an organ. They raised the level, orange and up to red and then they dropped it back to orange. I mean, they, gave these mixed messages which were crazy making.”

 

Rally behind the crusader, everyone. He keeps us safe from the terrorists that we’re...defeating? The Bush administration wants us to believe that both
- The War on Terror™ is winnable. Stay with us, and we will triumph over evil.
-Terrorism is everywhere. Be afraid. Paranoia and suspicion may save your life one day.
This blatant contradiction is an eerie exercise in ‘doublethink’. Double-plus ungood. And yet, news report after news report is rolling out with both messages of triumph over those icky Arabs and threats of terrorist attacks on everything from the White House to Wal-Mart. Keeping your chin up and head down simultaneously is no easy task.

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