A good theory as to why photographers are being harrassed everywhere these days.
Here's an article about the frustrating overreactions we always seem to get to rare dangers.
"Our greatest recent overreaction to a rare event was our response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I remember then-Attorney General John Ashcroft giving a speech in Minnesota -- where I live -- in 2003, and claiming that the fact there were no new terrorist attacks since 9/11 was proof that his policies were working. I thought: "There were no terrorist attacks in the two years preceding 9/11, and you didn't have any policies. What does that prove?"
What it proves is that terrorist attacks are very rare, and maybe our reaction wasn't worth the enormous expense, loss of liberty, attacks on our Constitution and damage to our credibility on the world stage. Still, overreacting was the natural thing for us to do. Yes, it's security theater, but it makes us feel safer."
Update: Jon Stewart in a Comedy Central commentary video. Very funny and observant.
terrorist attacks are very rare
ReplyDeleteStrange, I remember terrorist attacks all the time as a kid. They were nearly weekly on the news, some threat some where, and at least once a month domestically (within the UK). I'm not including "activist" activities from groups like CND, Greenpeace and the Animal Liberation front. Hmm, I wasn't even thinking of the riots in the late 70's/early 80's.
Bombing seemed to be only once or twice a year, but they thinned out. Fire bombing was a little more regular, and closer to home (Chester). Nationally it seemed to always be IRA, but being a border county we did see some attacks from Meibion Glyndŵr
Still, there was seldom anything of the level of 9/11. That certainly upped the ante.