Thursday, November 20, 2014

Loathing of Fear in Birmingham

Preamble:  My subject for today's discourse is fear and I decided to look up some famous quotes about it.  I came across this gem:
 
Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. - Bill Cosby
 
Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.....
 
Anyroad, I lost interest in research after that (why I didn't enter academia), even though I had to throw out a funny FDR joke.  (Again, writing itself.) 
 
Let us, dear reader ((s)??  No, that seems overly optimistic, I'll stick with reader.), harken back to an earlier time, right before the last election when campaign ads were blaring, "A vote for a Democrat is a vote for Ebola" and "ISIS is only one letter less than Obama.  Coincidence?  I think not!!", and other assorted bullshit.  And then the election happened and nobody talks about those things anymore, even though ebola and ISIS are both still around, and just as deadly.  But Fear served its purpose, so we can put it back in the closet, next to the dustbuster and the Murphy's Oil Soap.   Tale as old as time.
 
It's the selectivity of Political Fearmongering that bothers me.  It's okay to encourage fear of ebola and ISIS, two nasty buggers, for sure, but let's totally dismiss the growing threat of climate change, because to acknowledge that would acknowledge our dependency on foreign petroleum and all the delicious, delicious money pouring into corporate pocketbooks.  And, yes, sir, I DARED to use the word pocketbook!!  Harrummpphhh!!
 
Evidently, there is a Large Portion of the Population (aka Idiots), that crave Fear.  They will go out of their way to be afraid of something just to be afraid of something.  This would explain the viewership of TLC. 
 
For example, this morning at work a co-worker started moaning and kvetching that there is a threat of tornadoes this Sunday.  It's forecasted for South Alabama, BUT STILL!!!! THERE IS AN INFINITESIMAL POSSIBILITY THAT THE WEATHER IN BIRMINGHAM MIGHT BE NOT SO GOOD ON SUNDAY!!!!  AHHHHHHHH!!!  Thanks, Obama.
 
I realize that I live in the Land of Unicorns and Rainbows more than most people, but, please, stoopy hoomans, stop by for a drink and a piece of cake.  Just for a moment. And listen as the birds sing this happy refrain:
 
Shit happens.  Nine times out of ten you can't do anything proactive until the shit actually does happen and worrying about it beforehand will not help the situation when it does happen.  So chill out.  And be grateful for the all the awesome shit that you do have.  Cause tomorrow ISIS could drop an ebola bomb in the middle of a tornado and you'll be toast. 
 
And beware of Bill Cosby bearing drinks.