You are 1,860 times more likely to be hit by a world-ending asteroid than to be bombed by a terrorist
Discussing the effects of fear, paranoia and the media in relation to terrorism and immigration
© rosecoveredglasses, wordpress.com
There is no doubt that terror attacks over the last few years (and specifically since 9/11) have become much more prolific, accompanied by heightened tensions and an ensuing surge of media coverage. Terrorism and immigration are fast becoming two of the most important, widely reported and talked about issues of the 21st century.
It is not surprising, then, that the general public (particularly in Western states) became more paranoid, as severe acts of terrorism moved from danger zones in the safe distance of the wider world, to the frightening proximity of Western doorsteps. Public concern about terrorism is, indeed, very high; in many countries more than half of the population say they are concerned about being a victim of a terrorist attack. However, research has found that you are 1,860 times more likely to be hit by a world-ending asteroid that to be bombed by a terrorist. Therefore, we witness this rise in fear to be rather irrational, although it is vital, of course, to be vigilant in major Western cities and places where terrorist attacks have occurred before, or areas that are likely to be targeted.
In fact, over the last decade, there has been an average of a 1 in 1.4 million chance per year of a British person being killed in a terrorist attack on British soil. A pretty slim chance. Yet the terror events that took place in London, Manchester, Paris, Nice and Germany, and the intense media reportage that followed, have instilled illogical thoughts and anxiety in many individuals who feel threatened by the unexpectedness of these attacks in accordance with their ruthless and brutal nature.
Discover Magazine ran a feature in 2008 titled ‘How Paranoia Killed 1,600 Americans in 2002,’ claiming that widespread fear after 9/11 made many people travel by car rather than by flying, even though this is actually far more dangerous than airborne travel. You are more than 2,000 times more likely to die in a car than on a plane, but people who were so blinded by fear and worry could not look beyond the events of the time to logically negotiate and evaluate travel safety during the precarious period of instability that 9/11 brought about.
To put Westerner’s minds at ease, terrorism tends to be very geographically focused; 95% of terror attack deaths in 2017 occurred in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia. The only Western state that makes it onto the Global Index for the top 25 countries for terrorism activity is the USA (22nd place). The UK is in 28th place, with this position largely being down to the recent attacks that struck more than a decade after the USA’s 9/11 (undeniably the largest Western terror incident in history) and since the rise of ISIS and individual ideological extremists.
In these unstable times, many people have been influenced by terror attacks in the sense that it has increased prejudice towards foreigners and immigrants, particularly those that are Muslim and/or from Middle Eastern lands. Suddenly, your lovely neighbour is suspected of raising a jihadi son who is labelled a ‘foreigner,’ ‘immigrant’ or ‘terrorist’ despite having been born in the UK and in possession of a British passport, purely because they are a Muslim family. Your colleague at work and her liberal university student daughter are deemed to be ‘terrorist lovers’ merely because they sympathise with innocent people who have no affinity, belief or connection with terrorist groups and forces. There are around 1.8 million Muslims in existence around the globe, almost 25% of Earth’s total population. Do you mean to say that each and every one is a terrorist? I think not. It’s just ludicrous! (Forgive me for ranting and creating such an accusational tone but this is something I am passionate about debating and condoning). Be mindful and open your eyes to the bigger picture!
For ‘Great’ Britain, a country that should be proud of its multi-cultural identity, the capital city slogan ‘London is Open’ seems tainted and false. A sickening turn of events indeed for people who were previously welcomed into their current communities without a second thought or moment of doubt. Racial and ethnic prejudice has thereby become further enhanced by the influence of UKIP and pro-Brexit mantras such as ‘we want our country back,’ in addition to stricter laws for immigrants and asylum seekers and the building of the multi-million-pound Calais jungle wall, or border barrier, mirroring Trump’s erection of a wall between America and Mexico for the same purpose. What is incredulous is that this multi-million-pound wall is constructed in the face of the refugee camp where countless displaced people living harsh stateless existences are in desperate need for a little humanitarian kindness. But they aren’t our problem, are they? Call me a bleeding-heart liberal but that is nothing but a selfish and ignorant cop out. I think attitudes would be entirely reversed if the shoe were on the other foot, don’t you? In the words of Kate Evans, author of Threads, ‘when does this stop becoming somebody else’s problem?’ The majority of migrants who fit the ethnic profiles of these opinions are fleeing conflict, not wanting to inflict it upon others. Has anybody stopped to consider the emotional, psychological and social effects that such bigoted and inherently racist behaviour has upon innocent individuals? Apparently not, because the unfortunate reality is that society is so wrapped up in its own problems that we have lost the ability to show compassion for others and speak truths to power.
And that’s all I have to say about that. Until next time, folks! I can already see Gordon the right-wing, Brexiteer nationalist coming my way claiming that the Afghan doctor at his local hospital is ‘taking a job away from British people’, who don’t even want to be a doctor as there is a national shortage of British medical professional trainees. Where would we be, then, without the many migrant professionals who support our NHS?
Great analogy, Gordon.
