FEAR

Yet one more comment on the election…as though we need more. I felt compelled…what a fearful time. Maybe the news will be good. Please let the news be good. Please…

“Be afraid, be very afraid,” said a character in the horror film, “The Fly.” Which is how I am feeling these pre-election days, and pretty much how I’ve been feeling since the night of November 8, 2016. It’s not just about the US where the dishonesty and hate is nearly overwhelming; it’s that much of the world seems to be moving in the same direction. Actually if we consider the long sweep of history we could reasonably assume this short time of economic, social and political gains for the masses has been a historical anomaly; ancient Rome and Athens, where the idea of democracy began, didn’t last that long after all.

Since I usually lean toward worst case scenario…? Is it possible this aberration of a few hundred years of a measure of equality, a modicum of citizen participation in the affairs of government—mostly but not entirely in the western world—could be coming to an end?

I’m hiding out this Election Day and night. I could have done more but I’ve voted (democrat of course…along with the ten other members of my immediate family) and contributed a few dollars. My experience with election results is generally not good—the first time I was involved—with all my heart and soul—was November 1972 when one of the few deeply honorable and profoundly wise people to run for president, George McGovern, was soundly defeated by the decidedly dishonest Richard Nixon. The election results told an early story even in those slow news times and we, the weary and disgruntled campaign staff, left the boxes of barbecue and pyramid of six-packs untouched to wend our ways home, one by sad one.

Since then there have been marches and rallies and election night parties, not so many full of exultation exactly, but happy enough. But through the good and bad times I’ve always had an underlying confidence in the government of the U.S., that our leaders, whether seemingly duplicitous or decent, generally wished the country well whatever their version of that was and however they intended to add to that well-being.

That is not true now. We have a president who is the casebook version of narcissistic—by definition caring for nothing but himself. When I googled Psychology Today’s definition of narcissist this line was included: “That’s enough of me talking about myself; let’s hear you talk about me.”  People like Trump are in power here and there around the world, fanning a giant wave of populism and nationalism. They find the people who fear the ‘other,’ who fear change, who are angry, people afraid of the future so they must try to recapture their own version of a ‘good past.’ They find them, stoke their fears, and tell them who else to blame, in other words people ‘not like them.’

Well, those people have made me afraid too. Of them. And what they have always wrought.

I’ve always liked Franklin Roosevelt’s pronouncement on fear.

This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

So where’s this leadership of which he speaks. Perhaps it will appear Tuesday. In case it doesn’t I won’t know until Wednesday morning because I’m ‘going to ground’ for Tuesday’s 24 hours. Wondering where that expression ‘going to ground’ came from, I went to Urban Dictionary for the answer. Here’s one of their usage examples:  After robbing the 7-11, I plan to go to ground at my bro’s crib. I like it.

Hey, what remains of the sane world out there…wish us well.