Aging Capriciously

When does sanity replace fear?  Ever since 911, fear has continued to creep into the pores of American life.  Day after day brings more horror stories to our TV’s and newspapers.  Each of these stories of mayhem and cruelty drives a spike into our souls.  Our compassion for others is slowly but irrevocably replaced by the thought that “maybe I will be next.”  Let a helicopter fly overhead or a police siren go off, and we double check our door locks and log into our neighborhood chat line to see what is going on.  More Americans have moved into gated communities with a hope that a large wall will provide security and safety.  Those that have not moved into gated communities have stockpiled guns that the manufacturer assures them will thwart any unwanted visitors.

I recently caught the following dialogue on Nextdoor, a social media platform organized by zip codes.  If you need a plumber or carpenter or fresh eggs or just want to catch up on local gossip, you can log on to Nextdoor and get the latest scoop.  This morning there was a thread that went like this: (Names changed)

Angela:  Newman Ranch

Helicopter over back gate at Newman Ranch and police car just sped down the road.  Anyone know what is happening?

Mary and Andrew: Newman Ranch

A friend who joined us for thanksgiving dinner told us that his friend who lives nearby had a dead body in his yard this past summer.  He said the police warned him that the Mexican Cartels had a route that passed nearby.

Pete: Newman Ranch

Although we are a gated community, it’s a good idea to be sure to lock your doors and be aware of your surroundings even while in town shopping.

Paul: Newman Ranch

Anyone that thinks Newman is a gated community is wrong.  Ken, our security head informed me that we are NOT a gated community.

Mary: Newman Ranch

Does Ken read our Newman Ranch website.  It says, “As soon as you drive past the gated entry at Newman Ranch, you will appreciate the tranquility of quiet surroundings and the comfort of a roving patrol.”

Harvey:

I’ve lived in several gated communities and none of them are secure.  If someone wants to get in, they will get in.  Gates are a slight deterrent.

Melanie:

Anymore updates on this.  I heard it was illegals on the run.  But I would like to have facts.  It is scary as most of us likely keep our back doors open during the day. 

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As you may easily surmise from reading the above, even those with the money to live in a “gated” community are not free from the fear that pervades America today.  Whether it is “illegals”, juggers, car jackers, home invaders or serial killers, we have a wide assortment of people who we can fear.  If these are not enough, we have road rage maniacs, gun toting nut cases, disgruntled employees, stalkers, and teenagers looking for five minutes of fame.  It seems like we are not safe even putting one foot out the door these days. 

Many of you reading this may remember the time when kids went to school by themselves.  Saturday was a day for playing outside with your friends and your parents seldom carried a concealed weapon unless it was a paddle to spank your butt.  Today, kids spend most days with helicopter parents, sanctioned after school sports leagues or at home playing video games.  The sports field in our town of Frederic has a baseball field, volleyball court and four basketball courts.  After twelve years of living in Frederic, I can only remember seeing a few volleyball games and baseball games played each summer.  Most days, even when school was out, the baseball field and the volleyball field were deserted.  The adjunct basketball courts were idle year-round.  I do not ever remember seeing any kids playing a game on the basketball courts. 

“Sad” you may say, “but times change.  That’s life.”  But is it?  Do you really like it this way?  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  We know that fear is inevitable.  It is part of the human condition.  Fear has its positive side in that it provides a warning sign in respect to things we need to be cautious of or perhaps more considerate of.  You start to take a short cut down a dark alley and your nerves begin to tingle.  You are getting a warning that it might not be such a good idea.  You are riding your crotch rocket at a high speed, and you become aware of fear as the utility poles start looking like a picket fence.  If you are intelligent, you slow your bike to a more reasonable speed.  Those that know no fear will probably live an exciting but short life. 

“What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it.”  — Jiddu Krishnamurti

But fear of life itself is another thing entirely.  When we fear life itself, we are trapped.  We begin to fashion a coffin for ourselves even before we die.  Each passing year sees us living more and more in our coffin.  We do not want to travel because it is too dangerous.  We do not want to meet new people, because we might not be able to trust them.  We don’t try new things or do new things because we might not like them.  A new food might upset our stomach.  We might get lost in a new place.  We might fall on a bicycle or roller skates.  Our coffin becomes our permanent home even before we are dead. 

I do not blame the victim for this “paranoia” for fear.  We have a fear-based society where a paranoia for fear is hammered into us every day.  Each day the radio, internet, TV, newspapers, and social media outlets blasts us with mind numbing stories that would scare Superwoman or Batman.  It is no wonder that we have a fear-based society.  We have a society that is not addicted to fear as much as it is fed fear.  We eat a daily toxic brew of fear.  A fear stew that is comprised of stories that seem horrible beyond comprehension.  I could list a dozen from the past week, but what would be the point.  You know them as well as I do.  Whether they happened in Bangladesh, Spain, Mexico, or the USA, you will find out all about them in your local newspaper or evening cable news.

I would almost agree with a friend that it is impossible to escape fear in America.  Fear is now endemic.  It is a disease more widespread than cancer or Covid.  It is humanities original sin.   We are less than we should be because of fear.  We can never attain the greatness promised by our Founding Fathers because of fear.  The early slave owners lived in constant fear of an uprising by their slaves.  Many people who were brainwashed by pictures of happy dancing “darkies” down on the old plantation are not aware that there were over 300 slave revolts in the USA between 1521 and 1865.  (Did African-American Slaves Rebel?)

How do we free ourselves from fear?  Is it possible?  The experts tell us to overcome our fears.  We are told to “face” our fears.  To stand up to fear.  To never back down.  All good advice that is easier said than done.  What do we say to those who heard the helicopter overhead and the police sirens screaming by early this morning?  “Go back to bed and don’t worry< Be Happy!”

If Patrick Henry were alive today, I can imagine him saying, “What is it that gentlepeople wish? What would they have?  Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Give me freedom from fear or give me death.”

We purchase a false peace, an ephemeral security, and freedom from fear at the cost of our liberty.  A liberty to go out at night.  To leave our doors unlocked.  To break down our walls.  To embrace those who are different or who want shelter in our country.  To overcome our differences with people of other cultures and ethnic backgrounds.  Freedom is never free.  Freedom from fear comes with a cost.  Are you willing to pay it or do you prefer to live in fear?