2. The current freakout over refugees (keep them out, round them up, etc.) should remind us of outsized role fear has in USA culture.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
3. I mean just compare the France, where the terrorist attack occurred to the USA, which is having a nervous breakdown.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
4. After 9/11, there were various books on the culture of fear (Corey Robin, Faludi, etc.)
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Replying to @HeerJeet
5. One study cited cross-national statistics to argue USA was more fearful culture than comparable countries like Britain & France.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
6. Argument was it's precisely the relative prosperity &safety of USA (largely untouched by war on its own soil) that made it fearful
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Replying to @HeerJeet
7. USA hero RT
@JasonMi48564853 The coward Syrians can stay and fight for their own fucking country. If they die good, they can die in Syria5 replies 13 retweets 11 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
Jeet Heer Retweeted Ross Douthat
8. A fair point from Mr. Douthat:https://twitter.com/DouthatNYT/status/667162968568803329 …
Jeet Heer added,
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Replying to @HeerJeet
9. But maybe I can re-express point without reference to national difference in way Mr Douthat might like: modernity itself makes us fearful
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Replying to @HeerJeet
10. Modernity makes us more fearful because we're more comfortable, less surrounded by death and suffering.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
11. Our safety, security & prosperity make disruption harder to handle, just as painkillers makes pain, when no help at hand, more intense
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12. This heightened sensitivity might explain some mysteries: why fear of crime is so high even as actual crime rate plummets.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
13. The problem with culture of fear is it takes real treats but over-reacts to them hysterically & with no cost/benefit analysis.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
14. Because of way culture of fear dominates American discussions of crime & foreign policy, I've been wary of way people discuss PC.
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