I saw a movie some time back "Signs" that had some dialogue in one particular segment which was very, very good, I thought. It was very powerful. Mel Gibson's character (Graham) was a priest, and lost his faith when he was called to the scene of a car accident to deliver Last Rites, only to find out that it was his wife who needed them. She was still alive, pinned between the truck and a tree, but was going to die for certain when they tried to move the truck. Graham (Mel Gibson's character) left the clergy after that, and in the scene portrayed below, is talking with his younger brother (Merrill, played by Joaquim Phoenix)
They are discussing the fear permeating everyone on Earth, that there is something unknown out there, and nobody knows yet whether it will be a good thing or a bad thing.
(The family room lights are off now. The TV is still on. The SOUND IS MUTED. There are a couple glasses of Bo's water on the television now. The fourteen lights are still hovering on the screen. Morgan is asleep on Graham’s lap. Bo is asleep on Merrill's shoulder. Everyone knows there are aliens out there, they have been watching this unchanging scene for hours.)
MERRILL: (whispers) Some people are probably thinking this is the end of the world.
GRAHAM: (whispers) That's true.
MERRILL: (whispers) Do you think it's a possibility?
GRAHAM: (whispers) Yes.
MERRILL: (whispers) How can you say that?
GRAHAM: (whispers) That wasn't the answer you wanted?
MERRILL: (whispers) Can you at least pretend to be like you used to be? Give me some comfort? (referring to his brother's former life in the clergy)
GRAHAM: (whispers)...There are all different ways you can tell that there's someone really there watching out for us. You see signs. Sometimes they're little ones. You think of someone. The phone rings. They're on the phone... Sometimes they're big, like fourteen lights hovering over Mexico City. Sure, there are a lot of people watching this who think this could be a bad thing. But there are a lot of people watching this, who think it's a miracle. A sign of God's existence. It's all in how you look at things Merrill. What you have to decide is what kind of person you are? Are you the type who believes in miracles and looks for signs or are you the kind who believes, things just happen by chance?
MERRILL: I was at this party once. I'm on a couch with Sara Mckinney. She was just sitting there, looking beautiful and staring at me. I go to lean in and kiss her and I realize I have gum in my mouth. I turn and take out the gum. Stuff it in my paper cup next to the sofa and turn around. Sara Mckinney throws up all over herself. I knew the second it happened. It was a miracle. I could have been kissing her when she threw up. That would have scarred me for life. I may never have recovered. I'm a miracle man. Those lights are a miracle.
GRAHAM: (smiles, whispers) There you go.
MERRILL: (whispers) So which type are you?
GRAHAM: (whispers) Do you feel comforted?
MERRILL: (whispers) Yes.
GRAHAM: (whispers) What does it matter then? (whispers) Do you know what Colleen's last words were before they killed her? She said, "See", and then her eyes glazed a bit and she said... "Tell Merrill to swing away..." Do you know why she said that?
MERRILL: "No."
GRAHAM: (whispers) Because the nerve endings in her brain were firing as she died, and some random memory of us at one of your baseball games popped into her head. (long pause)
GRAHAM: There is no one watching out for us, Merrill. We're all on our own.
Many do not believe in God, and they cannot get comfort from knowing God has their back. Their "God" is the government, which is supposed to look out for them, but...isn't. So many people, even those who DO believe in God, are filled with fear, and believe they are all on their own.
They are demoralized already, KNOWING that if anything happens, THEY will have to deal with it personally, because the governments at the local, state, and federal level are most certainly NOT going to help us.
I remember that movie.
You’re more generous to some of the gloom-and-doom/everything’s a conspiracy posters here than I am.
There are lots of ways to upset and manipulate a country and its people. If people are ‘afraid’, as you suggest, making them even more afraid is one of those ways.