You Will Not Stampede Me

During the last twenty years, I’ve lived through a series of public crises.  9/11.  The Iraq War.  The Great Recession.  The Syrian Refugee Crisis.  ISIS.  Systemic sexism (“MeToo”).  Systemic racism.  And of course COVID-19.

In each case, society’s demands have been the same.

First, hysteria.  We’re all supposed to embrace fear and anger as the leitmotivs of our lives.

Second, herding.  We’re all supposed to not merely refrain from criticizing the popular view, but to fervently join the chorus ...