This year we are told that this country, or this group of people, is "our" enemy, and they all want us dead, or converted to their particular superstitious delusion, or they want to enslave us by economic means, or... well, whatever excuse enough people will buy to make it seem real.
Next year it will probably be someone else and the old enemy will be ignored or swept under the rug. The old enemy may even be recast as "our ally" against the new enemy. Craziness!
Yes, there are bad people out there. The only ones who are really dangerous have government jobs, and the only ones who are a credible threat to you and me are those who work for governments which are close enough to actually mess up our lives. And you are more likely to be targeted by a local govthug than by one in DC except in unusual circumstances (although the govthugs in your town may be on DC's leash).
Most people, worldwide, are decent and have no overwhelming desire to harm you. Avoid "imperial entanglements" whenever you can and you'll avoid most of the bad guys automatically. And let the bad guys, the govthugs of every country, beat each other up while you stay out of their way and laugh at them.
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We do have a particular knack for arming militants who wind up becoming evil dictators or terrorists. We're not terribly clever at foresight in that regard.
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