The+Port+Huron+Satement





Just as during the time of The Port Huron Statement, Americans continue to be distracted by a paranoiac fear of a foreign and even domestic threat to our way of life. During the mid 20th century the threat of Communism was feared by all Americans. Hayden describes the focus of American society being diverted from the domestic issues of poverty and civil liberties to the threat of nuclear war. This weakness of the American people to be crippled by a paranoia which hinders their ability to address their immediate problems is still present in our society. In Hayden's time the threat of "domestic communism" was what distracted Americans from social problems, while today the threat that is feared is terrorism.

 The threat of terrorism has lead to a fear that has been intensified by the media to the point in which domestic problems are often ignored. Today, we forget about the issues that are at home and are distracted by distant romanticized issues of conflicts that occur in isolated parts of the region of Asia known as the Middle East. Many Americans ignore our countries struggle to maintain public safety in schools and neighborhoods throughout the country. The number of deaths that have occurred in schools in cities like Chicago rival those of war torn Baghdad. NEXT  HOME