Why the Increased Interest in Survival Topics and Issues?

We have seen survivalism trend before in the 60's, 70's and 80's with Cold War fears creating a desire with many to make preparations for an eminent nuclear apocalypse, but interest in survivalism began to wane with the Cold War coming to an end... but that lull was only temporary. Survivalism has had a dramatic resurgence over the last decade.

You can see this rise interest in survivalism in every direction. All you have to do is simply look for it, and you don't have to look very hard at all. It's all over our culture in the form of television shows, movies, video games, books, and many more. Even "Zombie Runs", where runners pay to take part in a run where individuals dressed as zombies pursue them, have become a hugely popular event. OK, so many would argue that this is a stretch to call a "zombie run" a survival event... but is it?

So why? Why are post-apocalyptic themed movies and television programs about "Doomsday Preppers" so popular? Why does everyone seem to have this strange fixation regarding the end of the world?

Lots of reasons, actually... most of which are featured in the news almost every day. Many Americans had a "wake up" moment when we were attacked on 9/11. Many others became more concerned about their preparedness after Hurricane Katrina. Even more after the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan. And more still after the horrible tornados that struck the Midwest leveling towns like Joplin, Missouri. Others have been watching the global economy and the crisis occuring in Greece. And let's not forget about enemies who would attack and even destroy America if they could.

But for many this fascination is simply novel. They like the idea that, if threatened, they could take out the threat with a machete, ninja sword, or chain saw. And... that's ok too. It's fun!

Americans aren't the only ones who romanticize the end of the world as they watch Walking Dead... but Americans do possess a bit of a unigue quality that many of our global neighbors do not: the classic American "can do" spirit/attitude of being able to overcome anything with the right tools and a little ingenuity... including a zombie apocalypse. It's something in our DNA or national heritage or something... but it's very real.

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