grazeem Loc: Arizona

"The Big C" ended last night, it was a story on Showtime, maybe HBO, it doesn't matter, anyway it was a story about a woman that was dying of cancer.

Later on, Ellen Paige, the girl that played Juno, was on, she has a new movie coming out, and she was on for an interview.

And it got me to thinking.

Five years ago, when I got cancer, instead of me crying, "Why Me?", I said, "Why not ME?" I am nothing special, why shouldn't I get cancer. I did what need to be done, and today I am cancer free.

In the interview, Ellen Paige, she's Canadian you know, was asked where she is living, She said she was in LA. Then was asked how she likes it.

She said two things that I thought were interesting.

First she said how, before she came to the US, she never thought about health care, "When you grow up in out system, it's not something you think about." She went on to say how "Shocked" she has been with some of the things she has seen here, regarding health care.

The second thing she said was how "afraid" she thinks Americans are.

It got me to thinking that the "Why Me?" is part of being "afraid," the gun thing is part of the being "afraid," the anti government, is part of being afraid.

My question to you is:

Why or what are you afraid of?

For me, I'm not afraid, and maybe that is why I can be a progressive. If I were to die tomorrow, I would be sad to go, not for me, I've had a hell of a good life, but for the people I left behind.

So there it is, why or what are you afraid of?

Why are Americans afraid?

Loki Loc: Georgia

Disagreements aside, congratulations on being cancer free. Differences of opinion fade with a serious illness. I wish you continued health.

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

At 70 years of age I'm certainly closer to the end of my life than the beginning. Personally I have few fears and also feel that whenever the end, my life has been better than most - either since the beginning of time or even during my time on earth.

I consider myself fortunate in this regards mostly for where I was born - the USA. Many other Americans might see the circumstances of my birth as modest, but most other people born in and around that time wouldn't. I was pretty much born into welfare and living in a housing project, in what today is called a ghetto. One of 9, with a father whose most positive thing to the family may have been dying young - at the age of 37, leaving the 9 of us ranging from the oldest at 14, the youngest at 3 weeks. Yet, my good fortune was to be born at a time and place where one had opportunities to better themselves - with incentives to do so - even if most of those incentives were or a negative manner.

My fear is that those born in similar circumstances will not have the same opportunity - that by both making the circumstance more comfortable thereby diminishing incentives, and by government attempts at equalitarian leveling with all types of regulations and controls, also diminishing the opportunities. My fear is not for me, my fear is for those who come after me.

Navysnipe Loc: Old West

I'm glad you are cancer free.

grazeem Loc: Arizona

Thanks to all of you that expressed your concern.

I didn't mean for the cancer to be the subject, just a prop for the question.

The question is:

What are you afraid of, and why are you afraid?

Navysnipe Loc: Old West

We all should be afraid of the military allowing itself to impose martial law for any reason. It shouldn't matter what party you belong to. This is just plain wrong!!!!
We should also be worried about a president, either Bush or Obama, who intentionally tries to destroy this country under the guise of security, or economics. I.E. The patriot act, and the federal reserve. Don't be so blind that you can't see that there isn't much difference between the two, especially in these matters.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

Congrats on your recovery.

What makes you think I am afraid?

Why do you want to change our country? Is it a bad place to live?

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

Do you ask that question of the guy who wants to transform it (into who knows what)? Or are you unaware that Obama has said he want to be a transformational leader?

grazeem Loc: Arizona

THANKS FOR THE SERIOUS REPLY.

I WOULD AGREE THAT THE PATRIOT ACT IS VERY DANGERIOUS. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO END TO THE POWER THAT IS GIVEN TO IT.

IT WAS A RESULT OF, WHAT WE AMERICANS SEEM TO DO BEST, OVEREACT.

THAT IS IT 'SELF IS PART OF OUR FEAR. WE SEEM TO OVERACT AT EVERYTHING.

911 WAS A TERRABLE TRAGETY, AND SO CONGRESS APPROPRATED SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARE FOR THE FAMLIES OF THE PEOPLE KILLED. FAIR ENOUGH, WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE KILLED OK CITY, OR THE MANY OTHER TRAGEDYS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE OR SINCE.

I'M NOT SAYING THOSE PEOPLE DIDN'T DESERVE IT, I AM SAYING THAT WHY ARE THEY MORE DESERVING?

WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO KILL A FLY WITH A HAMMER.

IF WE GET HIT FROM TIME TO TIME, BY RAG HEADS, WE SHOULD BE BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE IT, AND NOT TRY AND START A WORLD WAR, BECAUSE OF IT.

ISN'T THAT WAT ADULTS DO, TURN THE OTHER CHEEK?

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

The underlying problem is that we don't operate based on what we think but what we feel. Liberalism is loaded with the underlying beief that what we intend to do is far more important that the unexpected results of what we do.

grazeem Loc: Arizona

I DIDN'T SAY I WANTED TO CHANGE IT, I WAS WONDERING WHY AMERICANS ARE SO AFRAID.

grazeem Loc: Arizona

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO IS CONSERVATISM, THEY BELIEVE THAT LOWER TAXES INCOURAGE GROWTH, AS AN EXAMPLE.

THAT HAS BEEN DISPROVEN RESOUNDLY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, BUT THEY STILL BELIEVE IT.

THE AYN RAND MODEL, WHILE SOUNDING REASONABLE, JUST DOESN'T WORK.

JOHN GULTS CRY "GET OUT OF MY WAY" IS WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, AND WE HAD THE WORST RESSISSION IN 50 YEARS.

THAT IS PART OF THE MODEL, BOOM AND BUST, UNFEDERED CAPITOLISM, WILL ALWAYS DO THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS BE COUNTED ON TO BE GREEDY AND OVEREACH.

YET PEOPLE LIKE RAND PAUL BECRY THE BENAFITS.

Augustus Greatorex Loc: NE

What did you mean by "the gun thing" and "the anti-government thing"?

You obviously don't like guns in the hands of citizens, and citizens being free to discriminate and hate, and you want to change our country.

grazeem Loc: Arizona

No, I was using that as an example of people being scaired, and these were the examples of self remadys.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

Although we have had and will probably continue to have differing opinions, I am glad that your health is such they we may have these discussions. It is good you have more time with friends and loved ones.