Fear is a powerful feeling and can function as an intrinsic barrier to certain actions. Eleonora Kleibel writes about the recent terror acts and alerts, focusing on their perception in Europe.
In many places, known as a cultural and political melting pot zones, people recently were confronted with a strong collective experience of fear.
The Swedish increase of the security level did not really find any echo in international media. In contrast, however, the #BrusselsLockDown did not only make it to various international news outlets but also became trending on Twitter.
What we are experiencing in the current discourse is a highly complex and also philosophical debate about the value of freedom and security in our society.
How much freedom are we willing to give up for our security? What is an even balance or can there even be such a thing?
Citizens of Brussels saw themselves confronted with a situation in which they had to temporarily give up their freedom for a higher level of security.
The image of the city was coined by empty streets, only occasionally interrupted by armed military. The reaction to this collective grounding of a highly multi-cultural capital has been as diverse as its citizens.
Many did not want to accept this restraint. They did not want to be scared and instead starting to mistrust their neighbors, they invited friends and friends of friends for brunches, lunches, dinners and private parties as their answer to the lock down.
After following the news, I found myself sitting in a coffee house in Lund and slowly felt this feeling of uncertainty, a high level of alert. I started observing my surrounding more consciously, without a clear idea what I was looking for.
Without any doubt, Lund is not quite the center of the universe. Nevertheless, rational arguments and statistics are not a good opponent when in fear. The fact that dying in a car accident is much more likely than dying because of a terrorist threat cannot make this unpleasant feeling vanish.
As wrong as it sounds at first, but we should consider to celebrate and live life to fullest, after a necessary moment reflection and condolence for the victims and their kinship.
We must not forget that we are still privileged. Attacks are not part of our every-day life.
Yes, one should be cautious but not in constant fear. To celebrate, to meet old and new friends, laugh, make music and dance is the most powerful weapon against growing anxiety and a smack in the eye for exactly those forces that threaten our security and our freedom.
We can walk down the street without permanently being alarmed. And this is reason enough to dance down the street.
