FEAR

It’s a formidable emotion. In fact, alongside love, it is probably the most powerful and controlling emotion humans possess. Consequently, both emotions have been weaponized for millennia. It’s certainly not love that has led us down the rabbit hole we are all wandering in these days, but quite the opposite. No matter what side of the economic spectrum you find yourself in, the fear of losing your way of life is paramount. The poorest of us fear losing what little they have, the ever-diminishing middle section fears losing their relative comfort, and the ever more concentrated upper section fears being afraid. 

Depending on where you are on the globe, the poor are either driven by the fear of increasing prices, displacement due to conflict, famine, or drought, to name a few. When people flee their homes, it’s not with the idea of making life harder for those who already reside in the places they run to; these people are in fear. The rest of us cannot possibly imagine what it may be like.  This migration causes a lot of strain on the economies of other nations and is looked upon as an invasion by many. The problem becomes even greater when political interests intentionally poke citizens with propaganda that only serves to widen the divide. 

The citizens of the sought-out nations are told to fear losing their jobs and their security. This propaganda has worked extremely well because most people need someone to blame for their woes, and defenseless migrants are an easy target. No one wants their lifestyle altered, especially if it’s already precarious. The upper tier fears losing its grip on the control over the rest, along with the obvious perks of basically doing whatever you wish. With a world running on money alone, those who stand to lose the most, if not all, are the first two categories, obviously, and so the controlling class is trying to close ranks by investing in methods of mass control, through technology. Artificial intelligence is being forced down everyone’s throat, once more in the guise of improving our lives. This is a time when most of us just want to take a step back to when everything seemed normal. 

We are being blinded by the speed of the tech that is supposed to be for our benefit, even though no one asked for it. Not only that, but this technology uses so much water, in a time where we are witnessing great droughts across the world; but the media no longer focuses on all the important issues, just those that serve the private equity firm that owns it. 

Meanwhile, the US continues to stick its nose everywhere it doesn’t belong, with its usual double standards and lies, while propping up another state driven by fear. Israel has every right to be fearful. After the atrocities of WW2, it is obvious that they want to protect themselves. But much has happened since then, and they have also joined the business of inciting fear. In the name of Zionism, they are taking over much of the Middle East with brutal force, in the name of an ideology; a Jewish state for all its people, safe from the Arabs. Jews are themselves at odds over these principles, although the right-wing majority calls the shots. In the end, it’s just more people being killed and displaced, in the name of a religion.

Somehow, we have to begin turning all this fear into courage. Maybe by taking the time to re-learn to think for ourselves, we can get over the hurdle that suggests we have no better alternative to Capitalism and it’s hunt for money. There is a growing tide, but it’s tiny. Imagine, though, what we could come up with if eventually, we decide to put our heads together.

Fiquem bem!

Raul Freitas/MS