MORE MECHANISMS FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL IN CONTROL

Today I listened to a talk by someone who has replicated a 100 year old bit of research. It confirmed that most people's brains keep superstitions alive. It was mentioned that, because Obama did well on his campaign on the day he played basketball, he will play basketball on every election day. We all know about those of us who touch/knock-on wood to prevent something bad happening after what might seem a brag.Intellectually, people will say they do not believe in these things, but they do them anyway. One asks the question, "Why?"

There is a wonderful site that lists beliefs, old wives tales, bizarre beliefs, omens, etc. Dialogue goes like this, "I don't believe this but, just in case there is something to this, I won't step on a crack in the sidewalk."

Believers in higher powers give the control to that higher power...whether it is God, Allah, or whatever being. Giving the final decision-making to another alleviates the possibility of your own decision being wrong. The responsibility for control, thus, is no longer yours. "It's God's will." as people give responsibility away. Equally effective is, "The Devil made me do it." Research has disproved all superstitions and high powers but people will believe what they wish to believe and that which works for them.

Let's face it, being responsible for one's actions seems to be too much for too many people. There must be a disclaimer here: All people who believe in God do not necessarily give up their responsibilities. Some believe that God believes them to be responsible for their own behaviors.

FINDING SOMEONE TO BLAME STILL RULES

Whenever people feel out of control, they try to bring their lives back into their control. One way they think they have of doing it is to find someone to blame for whatever put their feelings into a place of no control. The recent attempt of a suicide bomber on a plane is such an example. The problem that people want solved is for Homeland Security finding the needle before it gets into the haystack.

Janet Napolitano made the media rounds on Sunday to let people know that there is nothing to indicate that the problem was part of a larger plot. Even though the bomber's own father had called authorities over his concern a year ago, it is like trying to get a patient committed because you think he did something crazy but you can't prove it. Or, it is like trying to get a retraining order before the fact. Our laws have allowed many spouses to be killed before the court had reason to put a restraining order on...making the after-the-fact a moot point.

It is much evidence of the lack of faith we have in our government appointees and elected officials. When the adults are afraid, what can our children feel?



Since we can't do it all ourselves, we need to find trust in something less elusive than religion, which rationalizes everything good as the hand of God and everything bad as the just deserts of evil and sinful mankind. Some children are fortunate enough to have parents in whom they can trust to protect them. However, that is not true for all, in fact, it is not there for fewer and fewer children these days. Instead of the media rustling up more fear and agitating an already painful emotional life for most of us these days in terms of predicting our future, they could do a bit more by having some people on that can truly promote future comfort by spelling out just what is being done to get there instead of the fear mongers or the opinion givers who read the news and propaganda on air.