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The new head of the department of homeland security now refers to “man-caused” disasters instead of terrorist attacks. Why, you might ask? “That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.”

But if Napolitano wants to change our psychology, I say give it a try. I guess that means that coastal Southerners should prepare for those risky a hurricanes, without embracing the politics of fear that hurricanes might bring. Or is hurricane no longer an acceptable term? And are crimes against humanity “man-caused” disasters? How about genocide?

Also, Anthony Sacramone notes the patriarchalism in that statement, which is a slur to female suicide bombers everywhere. Oh, how forgetful of me. It’s a slur to the female causes of “man-caused” disasters.

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