Fear, Courage and Action

     I have been trying to write about the above subjects for quite a while.   I am not afraid to write about fear, but I am puzzled as how to present the broad and deep implications that fear and the political use of fear is having  on the citizens of this country.  There is a pervasive fear of being poor, of being homeless and of the homeless, of being out of a job, of airport security, of  terrorist, of women's reproductive rights, of workers' organizations, of  immigrants, of people of color, of social programs that protect all of us, of gay and lesbian people, of Muslims, and of just being in the world.  The new world order thrives on these fears.

     It is no accident that our society and political system is driven by fear. Fear is useful in the ever increasing  control over us all.  The result has been a creeping loss of liberties. One of the facts of modern life is that we are all being watched.  Our Facebook entries, our bank transactions, the contents of our pockets, the books we check out of the library, the goods and services we buy are watched and cataloged..  Some may say so what.  Let the government watch what they will.  Perhaps it is making us safer.  I say no. This collection of information is not benign.

     For one thing there is an incredible amount of money secretly ear marked for this surveillance, money that could be well spend for people and infrastructure. Secondly, mistakes are often made in the collection and use of surveillance information.. Anyone could be put on the no-fly list, remember Ted Kennedy being on the list.  I just read that the no-fly list has doubled in the last year.  Who are these new people considered  terrorists, and why.

     In addition constant surveillance of our activities has a damping effect on the expression of our legitimate rights of speech and action.  How many of us have thought twice about saying or doing something that might be considered controversial    In the past the free expression of discontent had not only led to the formation of this country, but strengthened it's development.

       I am also struck by how fear of certain groups or individuals has been manipulated and led to a mass hysteria.  Certainly the number of people who think that President Obama is the anti-Christ is not the result of clear thinking.  Also the attacks against public servants is prompted by a political agenda that has no basis in fact.

    Issues become blurred when seen through the lens of fear.  We cannot act in a courageous and intelligent manner when we act out of fear.  Courage and intelligence are predicated by ones own seeing and knowledge, not what is manufactured by our current political circus. Being clear does not come from a place of fear.

    It is certainly a difficult time to be courageous.  It is said that vigilance is the price of freedom. This is true.  We need to be aware of the acts that are being perpetrated in our name. And in addition to vigilance there must be courage to act for the remediation of  society's ills.  My friends, this is not the time to get discouraged and give up on participation in society.  It is difficult to face what seems like overwhelming and insoluble situation.  But if we ignore these situation, they will only get worse.

      Individual and group action can have an effect on situations that are oppressive, and contrary to the original tenets of our country..  Become aware of  people and groups  that are acting to mitigate oppressive rules and laws.  Join with these groups, and work for freedom and justice.  Do not give up.   In closing I would like to recommend a book, by Law Professor, and ACLU Chair,  Susan Herman called  Taking Liberties: The War on Terror and the Erosion of American Democracy.  Let's get to work.