Fear is interwoven into our DNA and serves a vital purpose for survival. This intense sense of impending danger signals an alert to create either a “fight or flight” response. Normally, fear serves its purpose through physiological and psychological changes that prepare us to meet unpleasant challenges. In some cases, the rush of emotions is not only eagerly anticipated, but encouraged such as riding an extreme roller coaster, watching a scary movie or entering a Halloween ghost house. However, a negative side can be true as well. An unhealthy addiction to fear that promotes an extreme distrust of people and events, without regard to reality is destructive and may be dangerous for both the individual and society.
The source of many altercations is fear that results in aggression (fight). Honed to a fever pitch, such responses may emphasize perceived differences – age, race, culture, etc. – that have been predetermined as dangerous, therefore to be avoided or defeated even with extreme violence. The political advantage of these intense emotions is obvious and has been used successfully to create camaraderie of those with like phobias. As a method to summon support through the ballot box, financial contributions or other forms of solidarity, it has worked even when based on false and unreasonable assumptions.
Some will pay little attention to the antics of politicians who practice fear-mongering to amass power, prestige and wealth, but fear’s insidious nature can taint everything, engulfing and distorting normal behavior. We are seeing such a transformation as violence, physical and social, is reported regularly by the news media, encouraged by some politicians and reaching all corners of community life – shopping, schools, religion, recreation. At a recent Fremont City Council meeting. speakers of all ages from the Hindu community relayed their experiences of “Hindu phobia” that has disrupted their lives physically and emotionally. The strength and commitment to the American constitutional ideal of freedom and liberty for all was at the root of these comments and is a warning sign that even in a relatively calm, multicultural community, the seeds of fear and hatred have been sown, waiting for the moment they can blossom.
There is no quick fix for this age-old problem. Prejudicial thought and behaviors are learned over time, often hidden from public view. The 1958 Rogers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific, includes a song, You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught, that addresses the roots of prejudice.
You’ve got to be taught, to hate and fear
You’ve got to be taught from year to year
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught
You’ve got to be taught, to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a different shade
You’ve got to be carefully taught
You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You’ve got to be carefully taught
You’ve got to be carefully taught
An answer to this menace that plagues our society and others is an open and honest discussion of differences that, in the light of education and knowledge, become less threatening, and open the door to a realistic assessment of any dangers they may present. Hiding from truth, even if unflattering and unpleasant, simply expands the role of hate, fear and mistrust. Our educational system that attempts to bring a basic level of knowledge and reason to all children, is the bulwark of democracy. Attempts to restrict and distort that goal is antithetical to our democracy.
