As a freshman in college, I found myself struggling for the first time in a history class: Western Civilization. As a history major, I felt as though I should breeze through this 100-level course without a second thought. When I realized that I had to actually read the text book and that the lectures in class were not a summary of the reading, I knew I was in trouble. I immediately started questioning my entire life: My major choice, my intelligence, even my future. Somehow, after failing 2 quizzes and a test, I'd made this genius deduction: If I fail this class, then I'll fail all my history classes, then I'll drop out of college, then I'll be homeless and living on the side of the road. I was like a walking Directv commercial a decade before they came out: "Don't end up uneducated and homeless, get Directv"... you get the idea.
Now, technically, was it possible that I fail every class and drop out of college? Yes, that was most definitely possible... but was it likely? At all? No! It only became more likely the more I thought about it. In reality, I needed to work harder and adjust to college.
The point I'm trying to make is this: Straits are made more dire with the use of effective, fearful hyperbole.
And boy, has it been quite a week for fearful hyperbole. The following statements, questions, and comments have been taken straight from a quote in news media, social media, or an article someone posted:
"The bigotry of conservatives is the same hatred seen during our Civil War!"
"If we're forced to take down A flag, what's next, the AMERICAN flag????"
"Implementing Religious laws into government? That's what ISIS WANTS TO DO!!!"
"Now that homosexuals can marry, PEDOPHILES are asking for the same rights!"
Reading these out loud will make them sound even more ridiculous. Give it a try. I'll wait.
Seriously... smart people, educated people, professional people actually believe some of those quotes! How dangerous is that?!? They've thrown logic out the window and replaced it with a nice tall glass of fear. And to back up their point, they'll find obscure news stories that they believe are proof of their correctness:
"Ted Cruz called last Friday the darkest 24 hours of American history." Told you he's a bigot, along with the rest of the conservatives!
"Look at these people burning the American flag." Told you it was right around the corner!
"Walmart just made a cake with an ISIS flag on it." Told you we're in trouble!
"This fringe group of pedophiles is asking for civil rights." Told you the Supreme Court just ruined everything!
The common thread you'll find in most ardent enthusiasts or supporters of one political platform or another is the strategic use of fear as a method of persuasion. This isn't a new idea, mind you; it's been used for millennia... but between 24-hr cable news and social media, the level in which the American public buys into fear mongering has reached a critical mass, and it's coming from both sides of the aisle.
Granted, everyone is entitled to their opinion. After all, it's America, right? Free speech, 1st amendment, you know, important stuff. I'm just struck by how many people use the 1st amendment as their reasoning while simultaneously showing a complete lack of reverence for it. After all, freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of consequence; you're allowed to speak your mind, just as long as you're willing to take criticism and grant disagreement. Instead of utilizing the first amendment, we're manipulating it to make our freedom seem right and everyone else's seem anti-American.
So... what do we do? Is there anything we can do? The skeptic in me says no, there's nothing to be done. I might as well join in on the nonsense (and occasionally, I do, which is unfortunate but true). I'd say the one thing we can do is look at history. It's easy to talk about our Founding Fathers, but I contend you can find plenty to learn from this issue in just the last 90 years. For those of you not wanting a history lesson during the dead of summer, now's where you quit reading. After all, those Buzzfeed quizzes aren't gonna take themselves. Anyway, here we go:
Be Positive about our nation's future:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933
Most Americans are familiar with the aforementioned quote... unfortunately, most also attribute the quote to World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Not the case. FDR's infamous quote on fear came upon his inauguration to the Presidency in the middle of our nation's most difficult economic season. Throughout his presidency, Roosevelt enacted many controversial pieces of legislation in an attempt to jump start the nation's economy.... although he has his detractors, the majority of historians rank him as one of our most influential leaders.
FDR's quote came at a time of national peril: people had lost faith in their leaders and faith in each other. They assumed that it would only get worse. Roosevelt wanted to make it clear that a positive nation could very well be a healthy nation once again.
The sad part about our current situation? We're in much better shape now than we were then. Our economy isn't great but it's not even comparable to the Great Depression. We have much more to be positive about. What are we doing instead? Aligning ourselves with political parties instead of people, creating enemies instead of allies across the aisle, and deciding with absolute authority the moral rightness or wrongness of people we haven't even met. We've become one-sided and judgmental, because we're afraid.
I understand that some aspects of our current situation are more "moral" than financial crisis, but you don't have to agree to be civil. FDR managed that feat quite nicely. We can do the same.
Use Your Intelligence in Culture to be Open and Honest, not Cynical and Hateful:
"This instrument [television] can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and even it can inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it's nothing but wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful." -Edward R. Murrow, 1958Mr. Murrow was a newsman for the Columbia Broadcasting System, better known as CBS. The early 1950's was a period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare. During this time, Joseph Mccarthy, Senator from Wisconsin, used the fear of communism to rise to national prominence. He began to take the rights of American citizens, including their freedom of speech and assembly. He did this under the guise of "protecting our nation from the spread of evil". No newsman would stand up to Mccarthy for fear of also being labeled a communist and losing his job. No newsman, except Edward R. Murrow.
Murrow's campaign against Mccarthy lead to the end of the 2nd Red Scare, but more importantly, it showcased someone using their cultural platform for good. Murrow stood strong in his convictions, but did so with intelligence, honesty, and a willingness to engage in civil discourse. He was willing to let other voices be heard and to admit when he was wrong.
Where has this ability gone? Forget seeing it on a news broadcast, good luck finding it anywhere. When's the last time you've been locked in to a political discussion on a facebook thread, only to read something conciliatory? It doesn't happen. People would rather be wrong and dig their heels in than seek truth in an argument, even if that means having to apologize.
Exchange Fear for Hope
"Education is not the means of showing people how to get what they want. Education is an exercise by means of which enough men, it is hoped, will learn to want what is worth having." -Ronald Reagan, 1980
President Reagan took over in a domestic financial crisis as well as a Cold War that was beginning to simmer. He ended the Soviet Union and righted the financial ship. Did he do it by alienating people or making them fear for their lives? No. He did it by giving them something greater to believe in, an ideal to strive toward. He gave them hope.
Fear can drive people to say things they don't mean, and mean things they don't say. Fear can make people terrified of tomorrow and looking for something or someone to blame. Hope alleviates fear. If you're positive, open, and intelligent, hope in that foundation can lead to a positive outcome. Reagan believed that if people hoped in something better, they would work for something better.
Another great man of history, Andy Dufresne, said this while locked up in Shawshank prison: "Fear can hold you prisoner, hope will set you free."
Aren't you tired of being held captive by your fear of a future that doesn't exist? What about the fear of having to win every argument or have everything your way? I know I am.
Controversial, emotional and historic, these last ten days will be remembered for quite some time in US History. It will also be etched in posterity thanks to a plethora of social media options, allowing everyone on the educational spectrum to give their "two cents". Changes in the American landscape can be defined by your fear of a changing future, or your willingness to move forward in confidence and compromise. The choice is yours. Don't be afraid.
