Examples Of Irrational Fear
Said Ahmed
Mr. Weinhold
CP English 11
1 November 2013
Irrational Fear Everybody is scared of something. Whether it is spiders, clowns, or the dark, everybody has something that sends chills down their spines. Rational fear has a place in our lives. Without it, humans are unable to sense danger. Irrational fear is the type of fear that should be avoided. Irrational fear can be destructive and potentially ruin society. Fear, as previously stated, is a necessity in order to survive. The rational kind, that is. Irrational fear, as caused by 9/11, however, can be destructive. Michael Moore believes that the United States government used, and is still using, the September 11th attacks to their advantage. He believes that the government …show more content…
"Irrational fear is a killer. It throws off our survival compass ... And it allows us to willingly give up the civil liberties we have enjoyed for more than 200 years simply because our 'leader' tells us there is a 'terrorist threat'" (Moore 104). The government is currently causing and benefitting from irrational fear in millions of Americans. Americans are giving up numerous basic libereties just to feel safe. The federal government, as a result, is assuming more authority and can do as they please. The Patriot Act is a prime example of this. In the Patriot Act, the government was given many new powers, one of which directly violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The federal government can investigate anybody and break into their homes unannounced to search their possessions, as long as they suspect that they are a "terrorist threat". The Fourth Amendment states that "the right of the people to be …show more content…
Moore emphasizes is that everything the government feels like doing is justified by 9/11. Even if it does not relate to terrorism (he used abortion and new weapon systems as examples). Moore states, "What really gets to me is the way this band of deceivers has used 9/11 as an excuse for everything" (104). The Patriot Act is a prime example of this once again. It was passed in 2004, three years after the tragedy that took thousands of innocent lives. People were still grieving and felt very vulnerable to future attacks. Irrational fear was rampant and with irrational fear comes irrational decisions. The fear of more terrorist attacks forced citizens to allow the passage of this act. The people were not worried about their Fourth Amendment rights. They were worried about not getting bombed by radical Islamists that absolutely loathed the United States of America. A more recent example is school shootings. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting brought weapons rights onto the national stage for the first time since the Virginia Tech massacre. The federal government tried to compromise Second Amendment rights, to no avail, in order to prevent more school shootings. The government, in conclusion, attempts to take advantage of fear in order to add to their already abundant list of
Mr. Weinhold
CP English 11
1 November 2013
Irrational Fear Everybody is scared of something. Whether it is spiders, clowns, or the dark, everybody has something that sends chills down their spines. Rational fear has a place in our lives. Without it, humans are unable to sense danger. Irrational fear is the type of fear that should be avoided. Irrational fear can be destructive and potentially ruin society. Fear, as previously stated, is a necessity in order to survive. The rational kind, that is. Irrational fear, as caused by 9/11, however, can be destructive. Michael Moore believes that the United States government used, and is still using, the September 11th attacks to their advantage. He believes that the government …show more content…
"Irrational fear is a killer. It throws off our survival compass ... And it allows us to willingly give up the civil liberties we have enjoyed for more than 200 years simply because our 'leader' tells us there is a 'terrorist threat'" (Moore 104). The government is currently causing and benefitting from irrational fear in millions of Americans. Americans are giving up numerous basic libereties just to feel safe. The federal government, as a result, is assuming more authority and can do as they please. The Patriot Act is a prime example of this. In the Patriot Act, the government was given many new powers, one of which directly violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The federal government can investigate anybody and break into their homes unannounced to search their possessions, as long as they suspect that they are a "terrorist threat". The Fourth Amendment states that "the right of the people to be …show more content…
Moore emphasizes is that everything the government feels like doing is justified by 9/11. Even if it does not relate to terrorism (he used abortion and new weapon systems as examples). Moore states, "What really gets to me is the way this band of deceivers has used 9/11 as an excuse for everything" (104). The Patriot Act is a prime example of this once again. It was passed in 2004, three years after the tragedy that took thousands of innocent lives. People were still grieving and felt very vulnerable to future attacks. Irrational fear was rampant and with irrational fear comes irrational decisions. The fear of more terrorist attacks forced citizens to allow the passage of this act. The people were not worried about their Fourth Amendment rights. They were worried about not getting bombed by radical Islamists that absolutely loathed the United States of America. A more recent example is school shootings. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting brought weapons rights onto the national stage for the first time since the Virginia Tech massacre. The federal government tried to compromise Second Amendment rights, to no avail, in order to prevent more school shootings. The government, in conclusion, attempts to take advantage of fear in order to add to their already abundant list of