The Culture of Learned Helplessness

By Joe Alton, MD

The United States has entered an era of domestic terrorism I often refer to as the “New Normal”. It's become very clear that terror's weapons can be anything from knives (Minnesota), to guns (Orlando, San Bernardino) to bombs (NY/NJ, Boston). Even trucks (Nice, France) have been used by terrorists to cause casualties among decent citizens.

In previous attacks on American soil, we have acted quickly and decisively to confront the enemy (Pearl Harbor comes to mind). Yet, unlike FDR, our current president seems to consider acts of terror a deserved consequence of the West's terrible history of behavior towards Muslims, despite much of it occurring 1000 years ago during the crusades.

The administration's strategy has been one of apology tours and withdrawals from places where the U.S. had made significant gains, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether the original intervention was wise or not, the result has been to cause a vacuum that plunges the regions involved into chaos.

Americans are being told that there is nothing that can be done as the rogue states of the world, such as Iran and North Korea, develop their arsenals for an aggressive action that will probably occur within the next few years.

Recently, Sadiq Khan, the newly-elected Muslim mayor of London, visited New York City and commented to the effect that we had better get used to more attacks. Instead of an aggressive plan of action that allies can use to combat the events, he recommends "exchanging ideas and best practices" as if he was addressing a breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce.......To Read More.....