Europe more dangerouse than USA? (gunshots vs terror threat)

I think the original poster misinterpreted the warning our government gave; it was hardly an insult to Europe. They gave the warning because there was (or is) intelligence about a terrorist plot to attack targets in Europe. It would have been irresponsible to remain quiet.

And in fact, I believe several European countries gave warnings to their own citizens, because of the same intelligence. No one was saying Europe has suddenly become a lawless, savage place.

 

Believe what you want. When your belief impinges on my religious rights, there will be conflict. If you leave me alone, there will peace. It is that simple. So don't try to shove Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism Zoroastrianism or especially atheism down my throat, and I will stand back and not interfere with your course.

 

What seems to be different in the US is the level of Paranoia. Europeans dont need to fire off so many alerts because they are aware of the existence of the ETA, the IRA, and various other bad guys who they must live with..... And Paranoia it is...simply witness the change from Coast Guard into Homeland security...the term evokes paranoia.

 

Even paranoiacs have enemies. Just ask the Russians.

 

Yeah, that is why we changed The War Department to The Department of Defense and wrenched our eagle's head so that it faced the olive branches instead of the arrows.

 

Didn't know that. What I do know is that as a kid I grew up next to a Coast Guard Station. We used to hang around the station catching crabs and...dont tell mom...sneaking our first beers with the guys. The place was like a big friendly McHale's Navy episode. Not anymore...chain link fences, cctv cameras and a professional aggressive stance. I ask ...why ? and most certainly the young boys cruising the waterfront ask the same question.

 

That was before the U.S. showed its weak underbelly and its lack of resolve to defend itself. After a few embassy bombings etc. with no retaliation some on our planet got up the courage to commit even greater mayhem. Now we live like scared little lambs behind our chain link systems without the courage to go out and turn some places into glass, which would make the world a safer place for little kids near CG stations.

 

If only the problems in the world were so easy to solve that all you needed to do was confront them !!!!!

 

no, i did not say that it is the wild west. I've got some family living in california, so im not just pulling things out of my prejudices. however, when it is fairly common for people to own a gun, in order to feel safe, the risk of that gun being used by a drunk owner suddenly resolving to settle an old dispute, or burglars taking it, and then using it, etc. while the risk is low, it is still a (marginally) higher risk. of course i dont mean the average american is a gunslinging maniac, and if i'm not mistaken, it was rarley that even during the wild west.

 

If you wait to remove a tumor, it will grow to the point that it will become incurable. Turning a blind eye to a problem doesn't solve it. It gives the problem the advantage of surprise.

 

If you create a Tumor Paranoia, the whole population will be lined up at the doctors office having a bruise examined and collapsing the medical system. Instilling fear and paranoia is not a good way to achieve your objective.

 

I was making an analogy. Everybody gets a tumor if they live long enough. Some people think the brain is a tumor and fear it.

No tenga miedo.

 

And it bothers me that SECURITY has become so ingrained into American life. I suppose that its the Gov's responsibility to educate its citizens about how the world works. The first attempt, with RED, Orange alerts was a farce. Don't stand still in public European places ? is also misguided. Perhaps their future efforts will be more sublime. Perhaps soon they will actually go after the cause of these threats and solve them.

 

You can help. Don't be complacent in Europe.

 

A wise person once said that the best way to destroy your enemies is to turn them into friends. You can't do that by trying to buy them. We tried that and squandered many billions of dollars and our respectability in the effort. It is time to take a new tack.