There is a great amount of fear present in our citizenry. This fear is primal, and is directly related to the most basic of one’s biological and evolutionary nature – the need for security, for safety and of one’s concern for existential survival. That is what is being threatened and in turn utilized and facilitated through the creation of the feared object – “the other”. Blaming the stranger, the wrong and evil other…you name it. Developing a contrived reason for one’s fear.
Whether it is those criminal, violent, drug-offender Mexicans taking away our jobs and committing violent acts; or Islamists taking root in the country and bringing Sharia; or the liberal, socialist elites with their promotion of homosexuality, transgender rights, abortion and reproductive rights, and female empowerment, or the Jews of course with Mr. Soros financing horror – the killing of children for blood rituals. And don’t forget, “they” will also be taking your guns away. You name it. So many contrived others to blame for one’s fear.
Yes, all pretty much concocted myths, but true in the eyes of many. There are other fears of course that play into this scenario of threat to one’s sense of existence and identity. The whole tech revolution and the tremendous changes that have occurred in the job market with the loss of manufacturing work with its good wages; in relationships and life in general with the rise and power of women; in the societal shift and greater acceptance of new gender identities and labels; in communications with the increase in mis-information and conspiracy theories; the race issue and the rise again of white supremacy; in the greater secularization of society; the movement away from traditional religious entities and the perceived threat to basic Christian values; and the increase of minority representation and the loss of white privilege.
Again, these fears are being manipulated to place blame on the “other” with all its accompanying anger and violence against the created feared object. Blaming the other for our own failures including our lack of care for the oppressed, the poor, the immigrant, the homeless, the sick and mentally impaired, the truthful journalist and so on.
Much of the fear – the fear that is being promulgated - is created for the use of control and domination. Fear is how democracies die and totalitarianism succeeds. What does one do? Fight this fear? See the motivation behind this fear that is being created? Yes, of course.
But more so, do we really need to create an “other” to blame, to castigate and to fear? Do we need be so intolerant, so ignorant, so demeaning of others that are different than ourselves? Can we not be compassionate, forgiving and understanding of our fellow human beings? Are we so perfect in our own morality and behavior?
What is there to fear? We need to confront the fear in ourselves…feel it…see it…dive deep into it…for the only real fear is fear itself to paraphrase President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We need root out the fear through one’s reasoning and understanding capacity and with faith in truth. We are much more than our fears.
Yet, fear as well can be a powerful motivator. There is power in fear. If one can face one’s fears, they can teach one and raise one’s consciousness to take positive action if necessary. For in rising above one’s fear one gains mastery and power over fear and of oneself.
Don’t let the demagogs manipulate you and your feelings, and create a false feared object – “an other” - for you to be angry at, to denigrate and blame for the fear you may have within. To use you in their attempts at power and control. Don’t let them!