How does our society’s growing paranoia affect trust ? What role do war, conflict and negativity have on this issue ?

In this recent article, approximately 270 business are described as having”Isis” in their company name. As a result, many are suffering negative criticism from the global community because of the link to the Iraqi terrorist group, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq). For of these companies, many of them small businesses, the negative publicity has affected their reputation so strongly that many are considering changing their company’s name. The article’s writer brings up an interesting point, however, expressing that changing a previously established company’s brand or name is a “costly and complex move”.

Though there is no direct connection between these business and the Iraqi terrorist group, our paranoid society can’t seem to help informally boycotting these businesses. When Adolf Hitler used the Swastika as the symbol for his Nazi party, all cultural symbolism previously behind the Swastika was erased from people’s minds. I know that if I see a Swastika today, I immediately think of Hitler, the Holocaust and World War II, not of its cultural origin. The name “Isis” is also, coincidentally, the name of an Egyptian goddess and yet is now generally associated with the Iraqi terrorist group.

When we see powerful words or symbols, such as the Swastika or the name “Isis”, we immediately connote them with negativity and assume the worst, whether or not they are connected with the groups that that use them as fronts. “Assuming the worst” seems to be a trend in our society, a trend that goes along with suspicion and lack of trust. Being prepared for plans to derail is okay. It’s a part of being flexible with ones intentions. However, at what point does being prepared for the worst turn into paranoia and prevent us from fulfilling our potential, both as individuals and as a society ?