"We live in a dangerous world"

I'm calling bullshit on the constant refrain from conservatives that "we live in a dangerous world". They are quite fond of repeating this at every opportunity, and they never fail to press liberals on the question: "Surely you agree that we live in a dangerous world?" As if this statement somehow encapsulates some core governing philosophy.

The truth is, it is an emotionally charged statement with no actual substance. When you say "the world is a dangerous place", you are not saying anything anyone would disagree with, and you are not saying anything that favors one set of policies over another. The purpose is merely to set a tense emotional tone, an atmosphere of alarm and urgency that resonates with an ideology that favors aggression.

Now, does this mean that it is somehow warmongering to press someone on how great a threat something is when it seems that they don't appreciate the danger posed by it? No, not at all. If you are debating someone, and it seems that this person is naive about the threat posed, by, say, Bin Laden, then by all means ask: "but surely you think Bin Laden poses a serious threat?" The problem with the general statement "we live in a dangerous world" is just that--it's too general. It is an empirical claim stated with all the certainty and general application of a law of physics: as if it's some kind of immutable fact that at all times we must be on a war-footing in every situation.