Most people have a rather narrow perspective of life that is geared to their everyday lives — work, family, faith,etc. Thus when something outside their micro world — requiring a macro viewpoint as to how such an event fits into their daily rountine — they are lost, and run off in silly directions.

For instance, back when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, folks on the West Coast were expecting to see hordes of enemies troops flooding ashore at any minute. They simply had no concept of the huge logistics problem such a feat would require in moving significant numbers of troop clear across the Pacific ocean and keeping them supplied.

Indeed, not being familiar with global geography they had no idea that a hit and run attack on Pearl Harbor was a maximum stretch for the Japan’s military at the time.

Or like when it was said that the cold war was ended. Many folks thought that the threat of a nuclear holocaust had disappeared, as if suddenly all those ICBMs positioned around the world had suddenly evaporated. Feeling is not necessarily reality. Oh boy, Russia is our friend now, forgetting that friendships can turn hot and cold in a heartbeat.