Fear and phobia

The lecture given by Sean Quimby on fear and phobia and it's effects on American psyche was interesting. Mr Quimby, a well dressed, confident man who will be teaching a course on fear next year at Syracuse produced many examples of how, why, and what American citizens fear. He began by talking about a child's fear of the boogey-man and monsters. He spoke of the development from monsters to things such as spiders, and then to concepts such as isolation and even the dark. He cites Charles Darwin's sutdy of fear by stating that fear is innate in humans and animals alike and everyone feels fear. Quimby used the example of Orsen Wells broadcast of an alien invasion, and the ensuing hysteria it caused, is a good example American's fear of captivity and invasion. This fear of captivity and invasion, Quimby says, is why American's fear terrorism so much.
I must state I disagree with parts of Sean Quimby's assessment of American phobia in regards to terrorism. He states that it is more likely that an American citizen dies in a car accident than in a terrorist attack. While i do not disagree that it is more likely, I do disagree with his explanation of why American's fear terrorism more. The event of September 11th struck a nerve in all Americans and will always resonate in the minds of American citizens. People fear car accidents less because they feel that they can avoid the situation of an accident, while a terrorist attack is completely unannounced and unwarranted. The fear of not knowing is what exists here, not the fear of terrorism installed by a government. I believe that something Quimby failed to recognize in this topic is the fear of the unknown. American's, more than anyone, are a people that enjoy having a degree of control over their future, and the possibility of disaster eliminates that control that American's have over their lives and futures.
I do not believe that the precaution's taken at airports, major entertainment venues, and other places are unnessary hindrances fueld by a terrible fear. It is necessary is best for all traveler's in order to ease the fear of such a disaster, and better protect American citizens and international travelers. Terrorism isn't fiction created by an author to scare us, it's real and I'll welcome anything precautions meant to protect me.