The war on terror is really the war on fear

[cynatnite]

Go to any dictionary and look up the word 'terror'. The first definition on all of them is 'overwhelming fear' or 'overpowering fear'. Basically, it's a war on fear.

Go figure :eyes:

[BlueEyedSon]

1. No, it's a lie, a meaningless phrase.

You can't have a war on an emotion.

Maybe its a typo, and they mean "the war on terrorism", in which case it's a war on a tactic. Unfortunately that would not identify an enemy (imagine if WW2 was "the war on blitzkreig")....

[Ignoramus]

2. The war on spooky scarey

Yeah, essentially, they don't even bother to make up a boogey man for you any more, now it's:

The war on stuff that scares you

[cynatnite]

4. Exactly

You phrased it much better than I did.

When I listen to people talk (no matter their political affiliation) the buzz words they use always intrigue me. It really puts it in a different perspective when someone decides to crack open a dictionary.

[Kraklen]

3. It's really an oxymoron. nt

[Stand and Fight]

5. No... It is the War OF Terror -- or -- the War of Fear.

It is not the War on Fear or Terror. They're bringing the fear, not confronting it.

The difference in the meaning of the words "of" and "on" speaks volumes.

Whereas, "of" means "Derived or coming from; originating at or from," "on" means... Well, I'm sure you get my drift.

[slor]

6. I was about to make the same correction...

I guess you can say, all great minds think alike!

[Stand and Fight]

7. Naw...

If that phrase -- "all great minds think alike" -- were true, we'd not be in the royal cluster fuck situation our country finds itself in and liberal Democrats would be in charge. :evilgrin:

[Ron Green]

8. The appropriate response to Fear:

To act as if there is no fear is to be reckless:
"Bring it on." "You're either with us or against us."


To be controlled by fear is to be a coward:
"There are hundreds of thousands of trained terrorists who want to kill Americans, so I'm going to take away our fundamentally free and open society to protect you."

To acknowledge the fear and then do the right thing anyway is Courage, and the only appropriate response to it:
" __________________________________ "

(Sorry, all the quotes I could put in here are from Dennis Kucinich or some other pencil-necked Democrat.)

[CAcyclist]

9. No, it IS Terror

It's a terrorist action on Iraq and a terrorist action on us, to keep us terrorized.

But I do get your point.

[Independent_Liberal]

10. You hit the nail right on the head!

War on Fear! Precisely!

[unhappycamper]

11. "We have nothing to fear except fear itself"

From FDR's 1933 inaugural address.

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

Full text of address:
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/

[Independent_Liberal]

12. Right!

We have nothing to fear but fear itself! Exactly!

[aeolian]

13. The war on anxiety and mild discomfort.

[radar]

14. Terry Jones of Monty Python fame...

Wrote an opinion piece on the subject.

"WHAT really alarms me about President Bush's "war on terrorism" is the grammar. How do you wage war on an abstract noun? It's rather like bombing murder...."

Why Grammar is the First Casualty of War - Published on Saturday, January 12, 2002 in the London Daily Telegraph
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0112-02.htm

Inside Terry Jones's War on the War on Terror - Interviewed By Jeff Fleischer February 2, 2005
http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2005/02/terry_jones.html