This year our property insurance billing statement came with an opportunity to sign up for (or decline) the "terrorism" addendum that President Bush had ordered companies to offer their clients. I appreciated the opportunity to reject such an offer because it seems a good way for me to express my rejection of the way our government has exploited my fears in order to justify and rationalize invasive foreign policies.
Knee-jerk reactions to private and public fear might be exploited by unethical politicians and predatory organizations.
Robert Redford's open-ended film "Lions and Lambs" is an excellent take on our national dilemma. In this election year, my hope is that the strength of youthful idealism, combined with the lens of mature perspective, will win out over apathy and cynicism. Our children deserve a better future than the present conditions would indicate.
