DO I FEAR?

"THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF." THIS APPEALING SOUNDBITE FROM THE LATE PRESIDENT, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, IS REPEATEDLY CONTRADICTED BY AMERICANS PANICKING OVER PAST CENTURIES. FIRST, THE INDIANS, THEN THE OUTLAWS, THEN THE MAFIA, THEN THE COMMUNISTS, THEN RIGHT WING MILITIA GROUPS AND NOW THE ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. REALITY IS FEARFULLY OVERBLOWN. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT DISERVE THE LISTENING PUBLIC. FOOD LABELS INSPIRE DESPAIR RATHER THAN CAUTION. PANIC-MONGERING ON ACCOUNT OF VICTIMHOOD FILLS THE AIRWAVES. OUR LEADERS AND THE MEDIA ARE COMPLICIT IN SETTING A DISMAL TONE TO OUR SOCIETY. WHERE ARE THE POSITIVE MESSAGES ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CITIZEN AWARENESS? ABOUT CAN DO RATHER THAN CAN’T FIX? ONLY REALISTIC THINKING CONQUERS FEAR. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONSUMING A CALORIE LADEN KEY LIME CAKE THAT "CONTAINS MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS (WHEAT, MILK, EGGS, SOY)." DO I PANIC? I HAVE NAUGHT TO FEAR BUT PLEASURE ITSELF.