More thoughts on Ebola. Specifically, why Americans feel so threatened by the possibility of contracting it.
Maybe it’s because a man died from it in Texas, even though he contracted it in Africa, and two nurses and a doctor who treated Ebola patients have been infected, though they are now recovering.
But, then, over the last ten years the number of Americans who have died each year from influenza has averaged more than 32,000. Not 32. Not 3200. We’re talking 32,000.
If truth be told, the life of my 96 year old mother will be threatened more by people with flu symptoms who will be able to board the plane she will be on in January than by anyone carrying Ebola, yet no governor anywhere has suggested we quarantine them.
But, then, the truth is seldom told by politicians and political pundits who want to exploit people’s fears.
That probably explains why we’ve seen so much fear mongering as the November elections approach.
And since we’re speaking of imminent threats, has anyone heard anything about ISIL lately?
Only a few weeks ago Senators Lindsay Graham and John McCain and Fix News hosts were telling us that if we don’t fight them “over there” we will be fighting them here at home.
So what happened? There is hardly anything in the news right now about it.
Maybe ISIL heard about the Ebola threat here and decided they just as soon stay where they are?
Probably not. But one thing’s for sure. Once Ebola fears have been stoked for all they are worth, we will start hearing about the imminent threat ISIL poses again, by some of the same people, and no doubt by new ones.
But the old song of fear will sound familiar.
