Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

patrice

(47,992 posts)

2. Yes, "taught from infancy" the wrong stuff, so the paranoia is the TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES

Reply to Bonhomme Richard (Original post)

Sat Dec 15, 2012, 05:42 PM

Dec 2012

that we fear, because we deny it, so we become our own enemies and fear ourselves, which further drives us into ignorance and dishonesty.

I like that, "our nation is the mental equivalent of a six year old" because even those of us who have some "claim" on awareness and what we call "knowledge" learn always how little we know.

Like Heinlein's Michael Valentine Smith said in Stranger in a Strange Land, "I am an egg."

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

17 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

For starters I think this country has a serious paranoia issue. [View all] Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 OP

Odd how utterly scared shitless we seem to be - agreed. n/t NRaleighLiberal Dec 2012 #1

Yes, "taught from infancy" the wrong stuff, so the paranoia is the TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES patrice Dec 2012 #2

I dont think it's paranoia per se, rrneck Dec 2012 #3

Not a psychologist but it is clearly paranoia to me if you are.... Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 #4

And incidents of violence just cause more paranoia csziggy Dec 2012 #6

Our military isn't paranoia rrneck Dec 2012 #9

Bellow has a line about our Christianity in Herzog that jumped out at me BeyondGeography Dec 2012 #5

+1 n/t FSogol Dec 2012 #7

Not just that, but there's a certain "shit happens" mentality XemaSab Dec 2012 #12

Reality-averse BeyondGeography Dec 2012 #13

And our fear based media certainly doesn't help things. Initech Dec 2012 #8

I do think there is a paranoia and media-hype issue that compunds everything. GreenPartyVoter Dec 2012 #10

America doesn't have as much as a paranoia issue meow2u3 Dec 2012 #11

Bowling for Columbine Wednesdays Dec 2012 #14

For Pete's sake. We have one national party whose whole existence is based on fear. Bonhomme Richard Dec 2012 #15

The people of the USA did the heavy applegrove Dec 2012 #16

And you add the hate propaganda to that and you have a problem. jwirr Dec 2012 #17