"Fear is a signal in the presence of danger," but unwarranted fear or anxiety "is always based on your memory or imagination," said Gavin de Becker (gavindebecker(1)), Thursday night's guest. de Becker, an expert on the prediction and management of violence, believes that preprogrammed fears or anxieties can stand in the way of our safety by blocking our natural sensory inputs.

At the root of all fears is the death of the body and identity, de Becker stated. However "risk is not only a part of life, but it's the specific part that gives life its flavor. Otherwise, things would mean nothing," he said. Though we live in extraordinarily violent times, "I reject the premise of evil…Violence is a resource in all of us," de Becker said.

de Becker suggested that the US government has been manipulating through fear since 911 such as with its color-coded terrorist warning levels, but statistically there is a much greater threat of violence at schools or in the workplace. In relation to school shootings, "video games are a profound part of the equation," de Becker reported, saying they foster good marksmanship while reinforcing dehumanization. He added that gun access is also a big part of the problem.

1. http://www.gavindebecker.com/

Bumper Music

Bumper music from Thursday April 24, 2003