Friday, June 27, 2008
Planning for Panic
Walking around town, I encounter signs on public property exhorting us to be prepared for natural disasters like earthquake and fire. Probably good advice here in California.
But what about man-made disasters, is anything being done about that? I haven't seen any signs. With the certainty of such things as foreign and domestic terrorism recurring in the future, what is being done to plan for public panic? Is this government and media-generated psychosis even being discussed?
In the aftermath of Oklahoma City and 9/11, innocent American citizens were murdered, and many others were terrorized based on racial misperceptions promoted by both major media and the FBI. Nervous breakdowns and domestic violence were also rampant.
Operating from the assumption that government and industry will continue to act irresponsibly, what might we do in our own communities to inoculate our neighbors and ourselves against panic? Can we finally begin having discussions based on the future we expect, rather than on the future we hope for?
Is anyone already doing this?
But what about man-made disasters, is anything being done about that? I haven't seen any signs. With the certainty of such things as foreign and domestic terrorism recurring in the future, what is being done to plan for public panic? Is this government and media-generated psychosis even being discussed?
In the aftermath of Oklahoma City and 9/11, innocent American citizens were murdered, and many others were terrorized based on racial misperceptions promoted by both major media and the FBI. Nervous breakdowns and domestic violence were also rampant.
Operating from the assumption that government and industry will continue to act irresponsibly, what might we do in our own communities to inoculate our neighbors and ourselves against panic? Can we finally begin having discussions based on the future we expect, rather than on the future we hope for?
Is anyone already doing this?
