I have heard the word, “fear,” way too often in the past few weeks. Really! Stop with the fear! You want to be angry. I can handle that. I am angry. I am angry that terrorism and politics are causing many to bend with fear. Do NOT!
White supremacist; ISIS; mentally ill young men with guns; shootings at an airport, at a school, a nightclub, at a mall; Nazi symbols defacing property and tombstones; tirades of racist and anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric during political events and elsewhere. Bomb threats phoned into Jewish Community Centers and schools.
Since 9/11 so many people seem to live in fear. It seems important decisions that impact many are based on that fear as well. Yes, we must be careful. But we have to stop being so afraid!
People tell me and write on Facebook that they are afraid. Well I am not afraid. I am so darn ANGRY! I believe what I have is righteous anger!
I am angry that in 2017 that people have not realized that this is one world, and we all live in it. That if a bomb goes off in one area, it impacts many areas. We are all connected. And no matter what anyone believes, we really do have to work together to keep our world intact.
I am angry that guns are such a problem in the USA. That mentally unstable people can so easily obtain a gun and blast away, taking lives and destroying families. I am angry that the sane gun owners do not stand up to the gun lobby and say, “Enough is enough. We want the right to have guns, but we also do not want so many innocents killed. Let’s do away with semi automatic and automatic weapons.” I am angry that this has not yet happened.
I am angry that instead of stopping gun violence with the only thing that would work, less guns. Some states, including my own, have legislators who voted to allow concealed carry for people who are not even trained to use guns. They are all insane in my mind. And they make me ANGRY!
I am angry that people are not kind to each other. They use words and actions that harm others and do not ask forgiveness. I am angry that some judges still allow convicted rapists off with a short sentence, and do not consider the victim of the rape. What is this? The judges should be impeached.
I am angry about what I perceive as a war against women’s health issues. I am tired of women being written out of history and their stories being hidden away, as men seem unable to deal with the competition of smart, intelligent women. I AM ANGRY!
I know I seem angry about many issues. But my biggest anger is for those who say they are afraid! Franklin D. Roosevelt stated so wisely, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!” And that is what I believe.
Do not let yourself be immobilized by fear. Words associated with fear include: “scared to death, “ “Frozen in fear,” “make your blood run cold,” “wild with fear,” panic, anxiety and terror. These are not the words we need to use.
Be angry. This emotion promotes action. And we need action to combat what is happening in the world. My grandmother left Poland when she was 16 years old, alone, in 1922. She had lived through the First World War in Poland. And she had survived and was ready to move on. She did not let her fear make her inactive. NO, she lived. And she fought to get to the USA. And then she helped members of her family escape Poland in 1936. Her rightful anger gave her the energy to ACT. And her actions saved lives.
When you are angry, you might ‘bite someone’s head off’ but you will not be silenced!
I am not saying to be out of control angry. My mother would say, “When you lose your temper, you lose the war.” I do not advocate losing your temper, but I do advocate using your anger to bring to action to accomplish good.
No terrorist or terrorism or shootings or anti-Semitic acts will frighten me. But these actions will enrage me and move me to actions.
So stop being afraid! Fear is not the right response to evil. Work for good. Be angry and DO SOMETHING!
zicharonot 