One Nation, Under Threat...

[Mythsaje]

"I will not fear."

I am not afraid. Not afraid of Osama Bin Laden, George Bush, or any other lunatic out there. Ann Coulter worshippers don't scare me. Neither do those who are slavishly devoted to the fat idiot Rush Limbaugh.

"Fear is the mind-killer."

Their fear is what makes THEM weak and blind. They can't see how ridiculous it is to allow their freedoms to be stripped away in order to protect them from a threat no more likely than multiple lightning strikes. They are FAR, FAR more likely to be taken out by a car accident or a heart attack than by any terrorist action.

The terrorist has become this government's boogeyman, the thing hiding in the dark corner of the closet they mention when they want us to eat our toxic brocoli.

But WE are not children. We know better than to fear the thing that lurks in the dark. Rather than leave the closet door shut, fearful of even the thought of peering inside, we stand on the threshold with a flashlight and a baseball bat, ready to confront our demons.

"Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration."

They say that they hate our freedoms, and, even if that is true to some extent, it is not the whole story. Every one of US knows it. Our freedoms are not a threat to these people. It is our government's ACTIONS that threaten them and the way of life THEY choose for themselves. Our government's actions threaten their very existence, and they know it.

"I will face my fear."

Instead of cowering in our beds, our covers tucked over our heads, terrified that the boogeyman is peering at us out of the darkness, we stand together, at the ready, set to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.

"I will allow it to pass over me and through me."

We cannot trust THEM, or anyone, to defend us from the boogeyman, even assuming it exists. We must face it ourselves... We must identify the threat with which we are faced and seek to understand it. It cannot be allowed to lurk in the darkness.

"And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. It will be gone, only I will remain."

There may be frightening things coming at us from the future like a runaway freight train. Economic instability, peak oil, global warming, (WWIII, perhaps)...

But the simple truth is that fear will not serve us. We can use the adrenaline surge fear can provide should the heavy shit come down, but anticipating that will do us no good.

We cannot be ruled by fear.

It will destroy us.

And those who feed on fear KNOW it.

And I, for one, choose not to fall prey to it.

Neither should you.

[GreenPoet64]

1. Wow. Thank you. n/t

[LynzM]

2. Wow.

Thank you for the reminder. An excellent use of those quotes, as well.

[Mr_Spock]

3. My feelings exactly

I am not the slightest bit afraid.

[Chipster]

4. Fear Mongering

You've said it very well. The fear mongering is the administration's strongest suit, now that they've about turned everything else to dung. Check this out for an alarming read:


Podhoretz calls for genocide

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m25423&hd=0&size=1&l=x

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Chipster!!

Welcome to DU!!

[carnie_sf]

5. Right on

I've been telling anyone who will listen (and some who won't) that terrorists can only beat you if you're terrorized.
Love the quote from dune by the way.

[oasis]

6. We refuse to become the captives of fear and lies. (n/t)

[cry baby]

7. I love Dune. Perfect use of the phrases in this context.

May I quote you by email to a friend?

[Mythsaje]

14. By all means...

That's one of the reasons I post here.

[cry baby]

17. Thank you!

[2QT2BSTR8]

8. Excellent piece of work! K&R!

[The Wizard]

9. Ku Klux Karl

Has effectively used fear to win (steal without question)elections and loot the treasury. The sheep find their spines in the professional wrestling rhetoric like "bring em on, dead or alive, and kick their ass" of the lying buffoon known as chickenhawk-in-chief.
(off topic) Secretary of War Ronald Dumbsfeld sounded like Dr. Seuss on crack in yesterday's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
When will we have that Welch/McCarthy moment when someone finally says, "At long last, have you no sense of decency, have you no shame?" Everyday since seizing power the Bush Administration has told lies compounding other lies to the American people. And these lies have caused severe damage to most Americans and generations of Americans in the future. When will be mad as hell to not take it anymore? The only thing that will get these thugs in line is millions of angry citizens surrounding the offices of those in power and their compliant media co-conspirators, and demanding accountability. We sit by our keyboards and monitors and complain, but as in any conflict, it's boots on the ground that make the difference. Tyranny reigns when good people sit back and do nothing.

Sorry about that little rant but it's been on my mind for a while.

[4dsc]

10. The republican policy of fear

ALthough we canot be ruled by fear, the republicans are using that tactic very well. Just listen to their pundits and you will hear the fear message they spread. From hannity and his fear message about terrorism. Hannity claims if we don't fight terrorisms(Islamic fascists is what he's calling it) in Iraq, then we'll be fighting terrorist's(Islamic fascists) in the streets of America. And it goes on and on with the others..

[LUHiWY]

11. Maybe you should be afraid?

Afraid of the people using the fear of "terrorism" to steal what's left of your freedom?

"Terrorism" and the NWO walk hand in hand.

They want worldwide power and profits...and the "terrorists" stand in their way.

Everywhere you see "terrorism"...you see people fighting to regain land or resources that have been or are being taken away?

Name a "terrorist" situation that doesn't involve land or resources. There might be some that involve ethnic issues...more or less.

The sick irony is that "they" try to make you fear the few people who have what it takes to stand up to it(usually in self-defeating ways?)...while you and I are too chickensh*t and propagandized to do so?

"They" are afraid of your freedoms?????????

[annabanana]

12. Fear is as corrosive as hate...

It destroys the vessel that holds it.

It leaves us whimpering for a superman to save us, and the fear mongers are only too happy to comply.

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. Bravo!

I like to think that the Bene Geserit would be as scornful of the GOP as we are here at DU. Nicely done!

[rjr10036]

15. America needs an intervention and rehab

I've come to the conclusion that America has a most peculiar addition:

http://rjr10036.typepad.com/proceed_at_your_own_risk/20...

[newyawker99]

27. Hi rjr10036!!

Welcome to DU!!

[ElboRuum]

16. Actually, not to dump on your expositions...

I think, that of all the 'clans' and 'orders' in the Dune universe, the Bene Gesserit sisterhood is certainly the most interesting.

However, one could make the argument that the Bene Gesserit are a metaphor for the right-wing and neoconservatism. Real-life similarities in parentheses:

They spent generations (decades) attempting to genetically (politically) engineer a messiah (a President in the form of a right-wing ideologue) to allow them to gain access to the male half of their historical sight (executive authority) and wield political power in the universe (the country) through this messianic ruler with them (the cronies and ideologues) exerting influence out of sight.

We are the Fremen. While we may have been inculcated by the Bene Gesserit's Panoplia Propheticus, we are greatly removed and isolated from its points of active authority. Thus, we do not care for the fear that those who practice statecraft require us to buy to feed their ends. We can't afford to subscribe to it. Our plans for our own prosperity will not permit us to indulge in such lunacies. I leave the fear for those who have given up their futures for a comfortable, if tenuous and fragile, present.

You know the rest of the story.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go 'meet' Chani at Sietch Tabr to... ah... scrub the mold off the qanats... yeah, that's the ticket.

Edited because I can't type right today... Don't you hate that?

[The Sleeper]

18. Absofuckinglutely....

I for one am not afraid of a bunch two bit nutjob criminals....whether they be foriegn or domestic.
Woe to those who will try to deny me, my children, and my children's children the inalienable rights that we are guaranteed. They WILL go down. These Bush League Fuerhers don't know what they are messing with...some of them may have been born in our country, but they are no more American than Osama....

[NanceGreggs]

19. Congratulations, Home Page guy!!!!

A fitting place for one of your BEST YET!!!

[Name removed]

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[abrupt]

21. very true

I will not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."


At the age of 15, I read those words. And 30yrs later (yikes!)they still ring true.

[ms liberty]

22. Bravo!

I tried to Rec this, only to be told it's more than 24 hrs old; that's what happens when you miss one day around here!

This is awesome, Mythsaje! Love the use of the Dune mantra.

Bookmarked

[Pierre Trudeau]

25. for some reason I was reminded of this...

http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres49.html

Thanks for your good words.