Fear is the Mind Killer

Fear is a big motivator in our world. Fear comes in many forms from many different places. It even comes in the flavors of rational and irrational. There is a lot to be said on the subject of fear and how it grips each individual, it is almost sickening how much sway it holds over our lives. The feeling is personal and works its way deep inside us, breaking us down, making us second guess our own decisions. Fear is the mind killer and it has expertly weaponized by those willing to harm and dehumanize others.

I write this entry now out of fear. I originally had something different lined up, but I am afraid on how it will make others look at me. That is the kind of death we all suffer, the fear of being who we really are, the fear of letting slip the mask and revealing ourselves to those we love, those we hold in high regard. It is that kind of death that comes for us on a daily basis. Who we are, what we believe, how we feel, who we love, and how we identify are under attack. A lot of that can be construed as intangibles, something we cannot see or touch and, therefore, is up to debate. However, there are our brothers and sisters out there that live in fear because of their cultural heritage, their place of origin, the color of their skin. We should all be celebrated for our differences, celebrated and embraced as part of humanity. Equality and equity, when everyone has what they need to succeed and thrive in society. 

Maybe I am not the right person to make this speech or talk about fear, but I see its stranglehold and feel its effects. We need to let people be themselves, show us who they really are, and embrace them. We must come together, stand as one, without judgment without fear. In today's political hellscape there has been a clear line drawn, it is us versus them. The government with all its blatant hate, fear mongering, racism, trans and homo phobias, xenophobia, misogyny, and rape culture has thrown down the gauntlet against us.

They have given voice and rise to these cockroaches. Yes, they have always existed in our society and have wanted the rest of us silenced, but these insects kept to dark corners and avoided blinding exposure. The Tyrant-in-Chief has validated them, has given them a place amongst us, has called them good people. They wield fear as if it were a sword and they drape themselves in ignorance like a suit of armor. They have started a crusade of fear against us, dehumanizing and caging those they hate.

I had to walk away from the computer for a little bit to calm down. I lost my train of thought as well. I originally started this entry as a way to say "Hey, we need to stop living in fear and be able to show our true selves." However, in doing so, I had to talk about the oppressors and the ignorant. We do not need to listen to them, we do not need to give their voices a platform, we should show them that they are not welcome in our society.

We need to be tolerant and open to tolerance while closing off all avenues to the intolerant. Their feelings of hate and way of thinking can only harm us and bring us back into the dark ages.

Once again let me reiterate some things:

1) Fear is the Mind Killer
  1a) Holding on to this fear can only hurt you
2) We need to strive to be our true and best selves
3) We need to stand together, united, for equal rights and equity
4) Intolerance, ignorance, and hate of all kinds is not to be tolerated
  4a) NO EXCEPTIONS

I have worked myself up into a bit of a froth. So on that note I will leave you with these quotes

"Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy." - Liu Xiaobo

"Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others." - John F. Kennedy

Thank you all for reading.

Cheers,
Phil

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/liu_xiaobo_510284?src=t_tolerance

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/liu_xiaobo_510284?src=t_tolerance

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/tolerance

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/tolerance