Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Being Driven by Fear

Last week U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton ruled that key parts of S.B. 1070 could not be enacted. A rally took place in Arizona to protest the ruling. As I came across the photo below of a Tea Party member spewing hate over illegal immigration, the image reminded me of a scene in 1957 when women screamed at Elizabeth Eckford as she sought to enroll in Little Rock Central High School.



The nature of people do not change. Fear causes us to act out. The question is when will we identify and overcome such fears?



The fear of Mexicans that produced such hate clearly evident in this woman's face is irrational, as was the fear on the faces of the women in 1957.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

First they have to realize they're afraid. Then they have to figure out why. Hard work... hate and anger is so much easier. Opening one's mind leaves one vulnerable to thinking.

Monkey With Glasses

JOHN O'LEARY said...

As long as the Right keeps aligning itself with xenophobia—with the constant subtext of "be afraid of X who are going to corrupt your community"—it's going to alienate younger and more educated voters. Sure, the US has a problem with illegal immigration, but the fear and vitriol are based on something deeper and darker. X of course can be gays, any people of color, and legal immigrants.

DB said...

Fear of change and fear of the different.

Pamela Cone said...

If we don't learn from history we will repeat it.

How true this statement is in relation to this episode.

We should all take time to learn about people who we come in contact that are different from us--whether an ethnic, religious,gender and racial difference

Anonymous said...

Ironically, we're all much more alike than we are different.

A concept that is blatantly obvious to some, and completely invisible to others.

Bob said...

It's all the same, isn't it. Is it something about human nature that wants to look down on somebody? First in America, the Puritans, then the Catholics, Irish, Jews, Italians, Japanese, Chinese,Mexicans, Muslims--not to mention the evil of slavery. We can do our best to get ourselves beyond it, and despise and oppose those who preach hate.

Unknown said...

Living in fear, in any part of our lives, is never productive for others nor ourselves. If we as human beings could have more empathy and compassion for others, no matter their circumstances, perhaps fear of the unknown would dissipate.If we could approach life with the innocence of a child and see beyond color, class and creed, the world would be a much better place.

Paula Cherie said...

Fear serves a purpose in that it provides a however flawed justification for class distinction. For those to be feared remain disadvantaged & those in fear continue to maintain control of the resources that seperate one from another.