"Fear makes us the instruments of Power. When we are afraid, we obey."
Posted 15 weeks 22 hours ago by
Fear is instilled in us at an early age and infects our perceptions throughout our lives. We are taught to be afraid of crime, afraid of losing our jobs, afraid of AIDS, afraid of immigrants, afraid of the Russians (or the Moslems), afraid of terrorism, afraid of chaos, afraid of failure, afraid of not being loved, afraid of going to hell. All these apprehensions are seized on and magnified by the media, the government, the corporations and the Church, whipping us into a frenzy of fear.
Those in power use fear to manipulate and control us. Fear makes us the instruments of Power. When we are afraid, we obey. When we are afraid, we will do anything to feel safer.
Afraid of crime? Hire more police and build more prisons.
Afraid of unemployment? Work harder.
Afraid of AIDS? Don't have sex.
Afraid of immigrants? Keep them out.
Afraid of foreigners? Bomb the hell out of them.
Afraid of terrorism? Restrict civil liberties.
Afraid of chaos? Support the status quo.
Afraid of failure? Don't take chances.
Afraid of being alone? Conform.
Afraid of going to hell? Obey the Church.
Fear limits our freedom, keeps us from enjoying life to its fullest, prevents us from reaching our true human potential.
I feel that their are good American people out their who are afraid of things that they have no real reason to be afraid of. I'll give you a small example. I recall seeing on the TV before, I believe it was Dr. Phill, that a pair of women escaped a cult. The cult had taught them from the ground up that any non-white person is the devil, and if you touch them, you may turn into the devil yourself. I think it was a Morman cult that they escaped from. Now, me you and everone watching this show knows that this is just not so. To those 2 women, who I think where just about out of their teens already, it was true. I feel that fear like this hasn't hit America, but I do feel, that American's have been tought by those in power in years past, to hate minorities or at least fear them.
I know for a fact that no one here is at heart a raceist. But you must admit, their are people here that are a bit too quick to judge. I respect everyone here, but you have to understand, their is nothing wrong with a man or women that seems diffrent. It may look like a duck, and walk like a duck but it honks and not quaks. Maybe it's a goose and not the duck we all thought it was orginally. They look similer, but they sure arn't the same. Has anyone ever seen a new comedy that had came out resently? Harald and Kumar. I feel their is a lot of truth in this satire and wit. Kumar is arab, but was born and raised in Ameerica, and looks like any other teanage wasteland. At one point, Harald and Kumar board a plane, an old white women looks at Kumar and from her perspective, he looks just like a terrorist! No joke, I'm talking long beared, talaban head gear, and bomb strapped on his chest terrorist! The man in reality though, doesn't even have a beared, and has his hared styled and a greesy manner. Also, he left the bomb at home and brought a bong instead :-P
My point is this, I feel people today are quick to judge Obama. He has a foreign name. Why not a name like Roy, Fred, Smith, or Jack. Something more American at heart? OBAMA!!!! what where his terrorist parrents thinking?!?! In truth though (and satire aside) the only true American names are Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Little Bear, Crazy Horse, and what not. True American names are Native American names. The names we carry here are most likely english or of some european decent.
The man had a Muslim father though! (as I listen to the screams and shouts) Yes, becasue we all know that every God damn muslim is carring a bomb under their turban. Just like we know ever christan preacher rapes boys, and every jewish man has a nose longer than.... well... I think I'll stop their. My point is, is that none of those steriotypes are true. None of them. We gave them that after a small Minority of them commited horrible acts, or after we felt like being bigots and lashed out at them and started those stereotypes. Regardless if Obama is a muslim or not, and he made it clear that he is not, the man sat in a church for 20 years proving he is not. It still should not matter.
Then I hear complaints like "well, your only voting for this man because he's black and you want to seem racially consern or some BS like that" well, I can just go around and say, you only voted for hilary becasue she is a women, or McCain because he is a white man. I know for a fact no one here voted for any of the three becasue of what they are. (God I hope not) But you voted for them because of what they stand for.
Let's be honest, we have reason to be afraid of Obama, nor do we have a reason to be afraid of McCain. We do have reasons to disagree with them. But never fear them to the point we give them no opertunity to defend themselves and try and prove what they are saying is right. That's just un-American no matter how you look at it.
Thoughts
You missed my point
Submitted on May 26th, 2008 by IronguyThe point I was trying to make (maybe it wasn't clear) but America seems to have an angst against those who are a bit different.
I will use Koolmom21 as an example (not trying to be offensive)
She is worried that Obama is a Marxist communist racist. If you want to see true communism, crack open a history book and look up Russia. Better yet, look at Cuba, or even China. Obama in no way has condoned the atrocities in those countries, nor do I ever recall him every saying things like "well, we need to be communists, because capitalism is evil" the assumption is that. He is a democrat, so therefor he is a communist. In truth though, democrats are not communists. Their is a big difference from government owning and controlling the economy, to creating a safety net for itself and the people.
Democrats brought us child labor laws, minimum wage, unions, and many other worker rights. That was put in place to protect the people. Is that really communist thinking? to make sure you do not get exploited in a free market economy? Which by the way is the one and only major down fall to a free market economy. Exploitation! (Nothing is perfect you know)
I do not fear that Obama will win or lose, or that people will or will not vote for him. I fear that America has had smoke blown in it's face for a bit too long to really see the issues. To really be fair.
How about Pablo for example (again not trying to be an a**)
But he focuses a lot on Obama's religion. I feel it is irrelevant. I feel if that is a factor for someone else, then that is ok. But to go to the extent to base the whole man on what is religious conviction is, I feel is a bit too far. Before 9/11 was America really fearful of Muslims? I look at past articles of the day and I find no evidence of it being on the radar. After 9/11 though? well, hence my case. We focus to much on stereotypes, that it clouds our judgment.
The point is this, I feel that as long as a man or women is willing at least ignore the stereotypes for a time being, and make an effort listen to the person and read their background and their position, and give them a fair chance. I feel America would truthfully experience their political system.
Hell, I'm a democrat and I looked at Ron Paul and thought (well he looks decent) and I looked at Gullianie and I looked at McCain even. I gave them all a chance. I ignored the stereotypes and looked at the other candidates. I feel America has a hard time doing that.
There is Nothing Too Fun than Fun Itself
Submitted on May 24th, 2008 by John 2000Well, as always, you make an interesting presentation : a somewhat tough nut to unravel and redirect from your conclusion.
But what the heck, fun is fun.
Okay. You have established a partial list of things that you are not afraid of. You are not afraid of these things because you have been taught since exiting your mother's womb that you should be afraid of them. Most everybody else has responded to the severe indoctrination by living their lives of fearful desperation.
And yet, your only fear in life, beyond all of the fearful sheep you walk amongst, is this overpowering fear that these sheep will not vote for Obama due to their general fear of everything.
Since I think it is quite normal and natural for people to fear to varying degrees and for varying rationales the items in your partial list of examples, and since you place Obama, ahem, by association on a par with such items, I might be led in my fearful perverted nature to assume that your argument is indeed meant to be a warning regarding Mr Obama.
Or, flaring my nostrils and slowly turning my cautious head windward, perhaps the arguments are to drive us into some sort of fear of ourselves - a fear of trusting our own instincts through soothing words of appeal.
Do you really watch Dr Phil? Oprah? Daytime TV in general?
If I were to believe what every politician said they stood for by judging only the words they spoke, then you would consider me a fool, right? There are numerous levels of evaluation to assess by. Any good Shakespearian actor can deliver a fine soliloquy - a fine performance as they say. That does not make the actor into the man.
Beyond that, even if what you say regarding Obama were really really proven to be true (which I believe they cannot), I could not support him due to his lack of judgment, his lack of meaningful experience, his positions on numerous issues and some of his essential power bases.
Sen. Obama is a Marxist, socialist racist
Submitted on May 24th, 2008 by koolmom21I have a very hard time believing you read his books and still feel this way-WOW
Yes, Sen. Obama is a Marxist, socialist racist. Just because you chose not to believe this, doesn't mean it is not true. I will not go down the list of facts because I am sure you do know them but you do not care. All people who are voting for him chose to ignore these facts-that is why people say you drank the cool-aid.
you are joking right?
Submitted on May 23rd, 2008 by IronguyObama is not a communist, Marxist, nor a socialist. He takes the same stances as Hilary. She is neither of the 3. It's no different than me saying John McCain is a Nazi because he believes in a fusion of privet businesses and a class society.
Second off, I see no evidence of him being a racist. Their is no evidence of him hating America. All you have to go on is hear say. I read the books and listened to a few tapes. I don't see him being a racist. The fact that he has lead the pledge before and even helps his local community shows he isn't an America hater.
Really?
Submitted on May 23rd, 2008 by PabloPeople are quick to judge? I doubt that seriously.
The problem with Obama is his bagage and definately Not his skin!
I have said this before and I will say it again, there is a black man who happens to be Republican that should he have run for president, would have slam dunked the white house and both parties would have voted for him.
I would vote for him in a heartbeat and would be active in his campaign. That is saying much!
Its not about race yet, Obama loves to play the race card often enough to make him seem the victim of race. Yet Obama gets more than 90% of the black vote. That is voting along racial lines. True that normally 82% of black people vote democratic but that is only against Republicans.
In a primary, its never been seen before even when Jesse Jackson ran and expected 90% of the vote and he did not get it. Obama is getting the black vote because of the Black Liberation ideology.
I am a minority here in America and some of what Obama says I understand. I see first hand some of the issues. However, two wrongs do not make a right.
Obama is a racist and he is extremely liberal who is a Marxist at heart. Marxism is a share the wealth and everyone has one voice common goal theme.
In a true Democracy, there should be dozens of positions each pulling this way or that. The one who wins is the one who can compromise to provide for the majority but not for everyone.
Thus why democracy is rule by majority.
Its not fear that drives a democracy. Its called pursuit of happiness as defined in the declaration of Independence. People simply call out what maked them unhappy.
Crime makes me unhappy. That's why I carry a gun with a concealed permit. I am not expecting the Police to solve the problem of Crime. Nor do I expect that prisons will solve it either.
Jobs, illegal aliens, high oil prices are a result of bad representation.
Sometimes people do need to take responsibility for their own actions and place the buck where it should be placed.
But I doubt it will happen because the Democrats want to make everyone blame free and treat the people like little children who can not take care of themselves.
for good reason
Submitted on May 23rd, 2008 by koolmom21Are you for real? Do you really think the fear that people express of Sen. Obama has anything to do with the color of his skin or the name he was given at birth???
Birds of a feather flock together. Look at the people Sen. Obama calls his friends. Most of his friends hate America and her white people. Sen. Obama is not just a African American person. He is a raciest and it is made clear in his books. If anyone reads his books and still believes he would make a good Commander in Chief that alone is scary.
Yes, we are taught fear but for good reason. Yes, Sen. Obama should be feared for good reason.
We agree to disagree-for good reason.
You can tell a child not to touch fire for good reason but if an adult still does not learn this and gets burnt it's his own fault.
All I can say any more is you and yours have been warned.