Fear Itself

As we slog toward Tuesday's General Election through the dense, choking fog of angry lies, distortions, and empty rhetoric from Der Furor, I am reminded of the words of one of our greatest presidents, which stand in stark contrast to the words of one of the worst. In his first inaugural address, new President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told a desperate nation hungry for reassurance:

"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days."

Der Furor, on the other hand, pictures our nation as the world's garbage dump. He promises his angry followers a terrifyingly authoritarian regime of economic chaos, racial hatred, and incompetent leadership. His economic proposals, panned by every reputable economist, would wreck the economy and benefit only the wealthy. His entire program is based on lies, distortion, vengeance, and reckless hate. He thunders about the horror of massive voting fraud that would cheat him of his victory, yet he has never ... never ... provided the least scintilla of proof that would stand up in court.  

Another great President, Abraham Lincoln, spoke in his first inaugural address words that would apply to our own fearful time:

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

One candidate in this election - Vice-President Kamala Harris - consistently appeals to the better angels of our nature, presenting a voice of hope, joy, and competence. The other candidate - Der Furor - appeals to the worst demons of our nature, presenting an evidence-free picture of a nation in decline, of crime, disease, anger, and hatred, driven by incompetence and a desire for revenge against those he believes have wronged him.

The choice is clear.

The only thing we have to fear, as President Roosevelt reminded us, is fear itself. 

Look around you, think rationally, examine the evidence, and vote your hopes, rather than your fears.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo