Why are we afraid of terrorists? According to statistics, we shouldn't be.

1. Ok, maybe that’s an overstatement,
but let’s say that your fear is definitely misplaced…
IF YOU’RE SCARED OF TERRORISTS,
YOU’RE STUPID

2. According to recent statistics,
if you’re a US citizen, you have a
1 in 20,000,000
chance of being killed by a terrorist
over a 5 year period…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/eight-facts-about-terrorism-in-the-united-states/

3. The current population of the US
is around
316,000,000…
http://www.census.gov/popclock/ - As of July 29, 2014

4. That means that over 5 years,
we can estimate that
approximately
16
US citizens will be killed by
terrorists…

5. 16

6. Really?!? 16?
Even at 16 a year, what are we so
afraid of?
Maybe it will help to put this in
perspective…

7. In 2001, approximately 3000 US
citizens were killed on 9/11…
It was a huge blow to the US
national psyche…
However, in that same year,
13,290 were killed in drunk
driving accidents.
3000
13290
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/the-irrationality-of-giving-up-this-much-liberty-to-fight-terror/276695/

8. In 2001, approximately 3000 US
citizens were killed on 9/11…
In that same year, 29,573 were
killed by guns.
(That’s almost 10 times as
many…)
3000
29573
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/the-irrationality-of-giving-up-this-much-liberty-to-fight-terror/276695/

9. In 2001, approximately 3000 US
citizens were killed on 9/11…
In that same year, 71,372 died
of diabetes.
(That’s over 20 times as many
people!)
3000
71372
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/the-irrationality-of-giving-up-this-much-liberty-to-fight-terror/276695/

10. Ok, so 9/11 was
a point off the curve.
What about terrorism in general?

11. Chance of dying in a
terrorist action…
Chance of
suffocating in
your sleep…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/eight-facts-about-terrorism-in-the-united-states/ & “The Odds: What are the Chances?” by Thomas J. Craughwell

12. Chance of dying in a
terrorist action…
Chance of
accidently
hanging
yourself…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/eight-facts-about-terrorism-in-the-united-states/ & “The Odds: What are the Chances?” by Thomas J. Craughwell

13. Chance of dying in a
terrorist action…
Chance of
dying by being
struck by
lightning…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/eight-facts-about-terrorism-in-the-united-states/ & “The Odds: What are the Chances?” by Thomas J. Craughwell

14. Chance of dying in a
terrorist action…
Chance of
dying by your
pajamas
catching on
fire…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/eight-facts-about-terrorism-in-the-united-states/ & “The Odds: What are the Chances?” by Thomas J. Craughwell

15. So, maybe that last one
wasn’t such a great example.
However, you get the point…

16. You should be worried
about getting enough exercise…
You should be worried
every time you get in your car…

17. You should be worried
about getting shot,
or hanging yourself,
or getting hit by lightening…

18. But you should not be worried
about terrorism.
Period.

19. Because, here’s the thing…

20. Your fear
is power
for other people.

21. The terrorists use your fear
to change your mind about
things like whether it’s worth
the US being a player on the world
stage.

22. Even worse,
politicians use your fear
to get elected, and to push
through their own agendas.
(NSA, anyone?)

23. If we all agree today,
that the fear stops,
that we won’t be awed by
terrorist actions,
that we won’t let our leaders
use our fear against us…

24. …then their
power over us .

25. Liberty & freedom
are the anvil upon
which American society was forged.

26. It’s time we invoke our liberty
to be free from
terrorists and politicians
using our fear against us.

27. Our founding fathers knew this…
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to
purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve
neither Liberty nor Safety.”
--Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin in a Pennsylvania Assembly reply to the Governor - http://franklinpapers.org/franklin/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=6&page=238a

28. So, the next time a famous building
explodes from a terrorist bomb…

29. …or someone pushes through more
“anti-terrorism” legislation
under a name like
“The Patriots for Freedom & Liberty
Act”…

30. … understand that
they are preying on your fear.
Don’t let them!
Take back the power!