Political Screaming... AKA Whining and Fear Mongering - Part 2 - Playing on Fear

Like I said above, we can't forget what happened. Still, we really shouldn't dwell on it either.

Remember it, learn from it and move on.

In recent years, numerous states have issued "apologies" for slavery (though how truly sincere those "apologies" were I rather question since they are politically driven) or had to change state flags to remove Confederate emblems or students have been ordered to remove Confederate flags from their vehicles so as not to intimidate classmates and community members.

It's the whole racism versus cultural/historical pride argument. Plus those "apologies" are never addressed to the first slaves, only to the loudest.

And I'm no white supremacist. I hold that no one group is better than any other just because of skin tone, eye color or hair color, let alone faith or beliefs. I feel that all people of all creeds are worthy of respect and fair treatment. As a person who is different based on my beliefs, if not my olivine-skinned appearance, I understand far better than I think many realize what it is to be judged based on one aspect of who and what I am.

On more than one occasion, people have asked me what my background is, based on my appearance. I've been asked if I was Muslim or Jewish. I've even been asked which country I'm from, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Greece, Italy and India among others. In essence, it's not a good thing to judge a person based on their looks alone or to separate people based on appearance, beliefs (religious or political) or any other "us-or-them" tactic.

Indeed, I think such isolationist views will and have done far more harm than ever they did any good. And the symbols associated with them need to again be considered in their cultural and historical context.

For example, take the swastika. Adolph Hitler, a very superstitious man who had a great interest in the occult, took an ancient emblem and "twisted" it to his own ends. Thus, a symbol that had existed for thousands of years as one of eternity and the cycle of life became instead a symbol of death and hate.

The rolling logs, as the original symbol is often called, has been found in cultures all over the world, from the American Indian to the Hindu. Few people remember that now because all we hear are the people who continue to use this symbol to intimidate those who are different. They scream their hate and torment those who don't agree. What else would a burning cross in a yard or a noose hung in somebody's locker represent?

Unfortunately, it is human nature to destroy that which is not understood or unknown and is thus feared. And in the end, some media outlets play on this fear by broadcasting or printing extremist opinions and pundits... Not going to name any names there as I'm sure you can think of a few for yourself, perhaps even different ones from the ones I'm thinking of based on your view.

Even in such pieces, we don't hear or see the whole story. Only one aspect of it because of the editing, the video clips, and the time or space limitations.

Thinking about it, this is along the same lines as the religious "tensions" that exist, whether between the differing sects of one religion or between differing religions entirely.

Plenty of blood has been spilt in the name of a god with both sides screaming that whichever god is on its side! Thus we had the Crusades, of which there were several over a span of about two centuries, all fought over who controlled what is known in all three major, monotheistic faiths currently in existence as the Holy Land. These bloody campaigns were sanctioned by faith! And politics. Unfortunately, thousands lost their lives to them, on both sides and from all of the faiths involved. These "wars of faith" were extremely bloody and brutal, set as they were in a brutal time.

So much lost in the name of religion and politics, from lives to history to culture and more.

Basically all this, in the political and religious fields, boils back down to one thing: Fear.

Fear of change, fear of losing control, fear of what might be, fear of letting go, equals fear of difference.

As President Andrew Shepherd (played by Michael Douglas in "The American President) says, "And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you that Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: Making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections."

Politicians will take any advantage they can, including attacking the past of their opponent or of someone close to that opponent.

For example, Shepherd's speech continues, "You gather a group of middle-aged, middle class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time. You talk to them about family and American values and character. Then you wave an old photo of the president's girlfriend and you scream about patriotism and you tell them she's to blame for their lot in life and you go on television and you call her a whore..."

Another example of this could be the questions asked over where Obama was really born, and those who demanded to see the original documents, the "birthers," who then refused to believe in the validity of the documents when both versions were produced.

Being afraid of something doesn't mean you have to tear it down. Face it and make your self stronger by understanding it. Don't scream your fear and rant against the people in power. That just makes you look like a fool.

From Frank Herbert's "Dune" -

"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain."

(There are also variants to this that says "I shall not fear" or "And when it has gone past me I will turn to see fear's path." Depends on which you prefer.)

Political Screaming... AKA Whining and Fear Mongering - Part 3 - End Game