Why are we afraid of terrorists?

Question

The risk of terrrorist attach is miniscule. There have been 75 people killed in Britain in the last five years related to terrorism, and 12000 deaths each year related to cigarettes. And yet we are giving up basic freedoms when travelling, basic freedoms when walking down the street, to counter them. Live with the risk people.

Answer 1

We're afraid of terrorists for the same reasons they're afraid of us; for the same reason whites are afraid of blacks; for the same reasons Christians are afraid of Muslims; for the same reasons rich people are afraid of poor people; for the same reasons big powerful nations with nuclear weapons of mass destruction don't want smaller nations to have their own weapons of mass destruction; for the same reasons George W. Bush is afraid of his own shadow; for the same reason a young beautiful high school girl is afraid of her young, not-so-beautiful classmate; for the same reasons the scientific community which believes in evolution is afraid of the religious community which believes in creationism; for the same reasons we'd all be scared out of our wits if this planet was ever attacked by a more advanced, superior civilization of extra-terrestrials who have the intelligence and technologies to travel millions of light years to reach Earth.
So we learn to bully others; avoid others who aren't like us; demean those whom we don't consider our 'equals'; and fight to protect ourselves from others by whom we feel threatened.It all comes down to a matter of trust. We don't trust terrorists and they don't trust us. We'd rather live with restrictions upon our own freedoms than risk living with risk.
We're afraid because of our own flaws and shortcomings. Whatever it is (that we believe makes us superior to others) also causes us to be afraid of those we consider inferior. Instead of trying to reach a commonality and come to understand that we're all really a lot more equal than we care to believe, we allow our fears to fester into hatred, bigotry, jealousy and war.
Hatred begets hatred. Bigotry begets bigotry. Jealousy begets jealousy. War begets war.
We fear the unknown. Be afraid....be VERY afraid.....
-RKO- 8-25-06

Answer 2

I agree. While I don't mind giving up some extra time at the airport and the stricter guidelines for acceptable carry on items, I also don't mind being stopped at a check point that is looking for drunk drivers. (don't know if they do that in Britain, but sometimes they do it in the States)

I figure I would probably be just as devastated if my loved ones were killed by a drunk driver as I would if they were unfortunately at a terrorist attack site.

We live with risks everyday and don't even think about it. I don't see guards posted outside of every McDonald's or every coffee shop. Some nut case could easily walk in and start shooting the place up. (these things have happened)

I think it is best to just live each day to the best. No regrets!

Answer 3

you can easily turn a big lie to an acceptable fact by just repeating it all the time.and the point is that bigger lies are beleived more easier.
fear of terrorism is just caused by media.tv radio films.....
if the same thing was done about siggarettes ,smoking people were az hateful az terrorists.

Answer 4

We love our lives and the terrorists take lives of other people, some times their own, just for the fun of it.

Answer 5

Why are we afraid of terrorists?

because they strike when we least expect them to costing massive destructions in infrastructures and human lives...just devastating.

Answer 6

Because of the stinking americans preaching Fear into the hearts of the western world.

Answer 7

terrorists? what are those??