tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post2138599776718992735..comments2024-03-22T10:49:51.766-05:00Comments on Horizons: The Politics of FearNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-61124581065730546582015-11-25T14:40:47.136-06:002015-11-25T14:40:47.136-06:00Although Richard Hofstadter's amazingly insigh...Although Richard Hofstadter's amazingly insightful work, "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" shows the enduring presence of fear in American democracy, it seems rather a coveted reaction these days. I cannot wrap my mind around the politics of unrelenting fear. It's so debilitating to the one who is afraid. I think much of it is the legacy of Cold War paranoia about 'commies' that has morphed almost seamlessly into a fear of any 'other'. On the Left the fear rightly began with JEdgar's spying on civil rights people then on anti-war people, COINTELPRO and many other abuses.<br /><br />But what happened to "the only thing we have to fear - is fear itself"? That carried us through many far more dark and serious dangers to our nation. What I have admired about this president is that enduring affirmation. We lose when we capitulate to fear.<br /><br />We need a backbone, a standard such as the wonderful British "Keep calm and carry on" of the blitz. We win when we refuse to give in. We lose when we allow ourselves to be terrorized. That IS the point of terrorism. We need to keep remembering that.Churchlady320noreply@blogger.com