The cultural poison of fear

In his inaugural address, FDR famously said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  Who hasn't heard that quote before?  Any student of history should be familiar with it.  It is familiar, it is welcome, it feels full of bravery and courage.  FDR - I miss you and your wife Eleanor.  You had a way of making Americans feel competent and capable of overcoming the challenges looming in front of them.
Where are you now?  Or other public leaders capable of inspiring that kind of tenacity, perseverance, and discipline?  I don't know.

What I know is that the people doing the talking on media these days are all shouting at each other. They blame terrorists.  They blame immigrants.  They blame Muslims. They blame blacks. They blame the Republicans, the Democrats, the conservatives, the liberals.  Everyone is an enemy with a hidden agenda that Americans should be afraid of.  It creates drama, attention, ratings, money.  It creates a culture of fear and victimization in a country with a history of resilience.   We are told to fear the rich who can buy votes, and control the flow of money.  We are told the fear the government, because they are always watching us, even without our knowledge.  Be afraid! Be very afraid! Lock yourselves in your homes where you will always be safe and cared for!

No.  The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Stop being afraid.  Stop listening to the lies about the "Others" - the people who aren't like you.  Confront the FEAR,  not the purported cause of the fear.   Don't say to yourself  "That black man is scary!"  Ask yourself instead  "Why am I scared of a black man?"    Maybe he's just as scared of you.

Fear controls us.  Fear makes it difficult to believe that good things can help to change the world we are in.  Fear makes us act like selfish assholes.

Here is my challenge to you... be brave in facing fear. Practice the true courage of kindness.  Start encouraging each other to reach out with a hand, instead of fist.   Do this in your home first.  Then your town, then your state, then your world. The effect you have may surprise you, and is even more powerful than that lying bastard fear.