Not long ago, I found myself in a pub where a jam session for local singer-songwriters was in full swing. Every seat in the place was taken but for two stools at the bar. After listening to a few tunes, I got to talking with a stranger beside me. When I remarked at the size of the crowd, he surmised it had something to do with ‘the times’.

“We’re living in a constant threat environment,” he opined. “Folks come here because they want to feel more at home. That’s why the room is full.”…