Fear Of Flying

My wife suggested that the powers that be should start getting their stories straight when it comes to the swine flu. "Are we supposed to panic or not? If we're not supposed to panic, why does 'pandemic' sound so much like 'panic?'" Our Chief Gaffemaster, Joe Biden certainly seemed on the edge of his seat when Matt Lauer asked him whether or not his family should get on a commercial airliner to Mexico in the next week, Biden said: "I would tell members of my family - and I have - I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now."
Joe's people were quick to remind us, and Joe too, "The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the administration is giving to all Americans: that they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico," said Biden's rationalizer, Elizabeth Alexander. Okay, but how is that any more reassuring? I work with a woman who is getting ready to fly down to Cabo San Lucas next week for her friend's bachelorette party. The event has been scheduled for months, deposits made, tickets purchased, and now the big day is here. Is this necessary travel to Mexico? For the record, the last time we spoke, she was panicking.
Maybe that's what we're left with, now that the war on terror is over. We need something to be afraid of, and a flu that has killed hundreds of people seems like a logical alternative to suicide bombers. But did anyone else notice that the bombing didn't stop when the flu started? For that matter, the economy didn't suddenly repair itself, and a New York City-sized chunk just broke off the Antarctic ice shelf. Our calm voice in the storm, President Obama is said to channel Franklin Roosevelt in times of crisis. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. It's a great quote, but just exactly how does this reassure us? What are you afraid of? "Fear." Why? "Dunno. I just know that fear scares the heebie jeebies out of me."
I find myself wanting to flip to the end of the chapter to see how this one ends. Fear is about the unknown, and when doctors and politicians can't agree on what our national reaction should be, there's bound to be some anxiety. But there's also the flip side: If you have a fear of flying, you've just been given a golden excuse to avoid that cross-country jaunt. If you're worried about that big test, your school could be closed until further notice. I'm just afraid that I might run out of things to be afraid of.