Faithfully yours - The politics of fear

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Published on Saturday, January 9, 2016

By Neil Strohschein

The Neepawa Banner

As I write these words, election fever is building in the United States. This coming November, Americans will elect a new President. Those running to succeed Barak Obama have been on the campaign trail since last August. This campaign could be one of the ugliest in recent history.

Over the past few months, a “spirit of fear” has taken hold of society, and not without cause.

The recent shootings in San Bernardino, California left an entire nation in shock, wondering how this could happen and why it happened. People demanded answers, but few can be given. We will never know the full story behind this tragedy. The alleged shooters were killed in a shoot-out with police and the answers to our questions died with them.

But the fear remains and many people are asking: “Where (not when) will a similar event take place; and how many more innocent people must die before we finally see the end of these senseless acts of violence?” Sadly, that is a question no one can answer with certainty.

Adding to the fear is the uncertainty expressed by those investigating this tragedy. “Is this a terrorist act?” That’s what reporters wanted to know. It seems to be. At least, that is what the FBI agents investigating the case told reporters. But it is far too early to tell if this was part of a co-ordinated plot by an international terrorist group or just two people acting alone.

That hasn’t stopped people from taking to social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to share their views on this tragedy. While most posts reflect careful thought and well chosen words, there are some that inflame an already tense situation and deepen the fears already held by many.

Enter politicians who use those fears for political gain. In the United States, this practise has been elevated to an art form. That’s what makes attack ads so effective. If you can convince enough people that your opponent won’t do anything to address their fears, you can swing the vote in your favour and win the election. At least, that’s the way things are supposed to work.

But voters aren’t as gullible as politicians may think they are. Voters have legitimate concerns. They want to live in safe communities. They want to be assured that their government is looking out for them and for their interests. They want to know that those who keep the peace in their communities or those who respond to emergencies have the personnel and equipment to respond quickly and effectively when called. They don’t want to live in fear and they don’t want those seeking their support to create a spirit of fear and then use it for political gain.

It is to these people that St. Paul addressed these words: “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

The fear mongers will always be with us. So will the conspiracy theorists and others like them who use fear as a means of manipulation and control. But we have a spirit within us that can defeat their schemes and create a world in which all people can live in peace and safety.

That spirit is released when we use the sound minds God has given us to make decisions based on careful thought and factual evidence and follow Jesus’ command to “love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves.”