by Scott Whippo

What is it that keeps us locked up and afraid to let our children run free. Are we caught in the grip of paranoia? Sometimes our paranoia feeds off real but usually imagined possibilities.

Recently we had a case of murder in Marysville. Murder is not something that should be taken lightly and, of course, we in the community send our heart felt condolences to the friends and relatives of the victims. Yes there were multiple victims. One was murdered in her home. The others were the friends and family of the murder victim and the murder suspect.

Some might think it cold hearted to mention these other victims, somehow taking away from the death of an individual. There is no taking away the heart ache or the depression or the wishful thinking that somehow this had never happen. It did happen and the victims were multiple.

Most of us still don’t take murder for granted. We still marginally live in a society that perceives bad things as out of the norm and that is why it makes the news. We continue to be aware of unfortunate situations.

Because of this unfortunate and unhappy event some people may become paranoid about their neighbors,thinking every little nuance is a threat. Others may close up their kids in a prison they call home not allowing them out without adult supervision until they are 18 or 19. Of course some people are this way already because of all the negative news on TV. I read a study recently (unfortunately I can’t remember where) that found paranoia to be directly related to the amount of time a person spends watching TV. Perhaps if the people in this study spent more time outside interacting with the community they would be less paranoid and more willing to allow their children to grow normally rather than in a state of fear.

We are constantly bombarded with bad news. It is unrelenting. Why is this? I remember several years ago when Channel 13 in Seattle first started, they had a great idea. Why not base the news around positive and uplifting news? This lasted about six months until they saw they were being beaten in the news polls by channels that were offering negative and paranoid reports. Yes they eventually changed their format.

Perhaps this is why local papers don’t sell as well as larger papers? Local papers like the Arlington Times and Marysville Globe usually convey positive information. Is it possible that we have gotten to the point where we need negative images to reinforce and rationalize our paranoia? Is it an illness?

Bad things happen to good people but in perspective it is minimal. We can choose to spend our lives afraid of the dark or we can embrace it as another side of a world that is worth being involved in and exploring. It’s a world of parks and trails and of nice people and once in awhile a not so nice person. It is a world where most people can be trusted. You think I’m mad because I am willing to trust people, even strangers?

I have seen groups of people base all their decisions and actions on what a lawyer tells them, out of fear they may be sued a very long time from now. Too many of us stand and watch over our children waiting for the school bus because we fear abduction. We should be ashamed for allowing ourselves to be manipulated by people and institutions that would have us paranoid in order to justify their paranoia or advance their agendas and in some cases fatten someone’s pocket books.

I have seen societies where trust is at a minimum, where people wont talk to others because fear grips them by the throat, unable to speak through the parnoiathat invades there very being. I have been to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and parts of the former Soviet Union. I have seen the paralysis that comes with paranoia. It is not a world that I wish to see duplicated here.

There are bad things that happen in the world and in our community. We thank law enforcement for being there when they are needed but we can not rely on the police to stand constant guard over us. We must realize that interaction with our neighbors not locking the door, situational awareness not ignorance of your surroundings is the key to reducing our paranoia and building a stronger community.

Comments may be addressed to sdwhippo@yahoo.com.