Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
"Fear is the basis of the whole - fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the
parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand-in-hand." - Bertrand Russell
Conventional wisdom has it that one responds to fear either with "fight" or "flight", but there is at least one other response. I submit that the more rational response is to take prudent steps to provide safety, and then to get on with your life.
"Fight" in the face of fear reduces one to violence and irrationality. "Flight" makes one seek out a source of strength and become dependent on it, and thus robs one of self esteem.
While the use of fear is not new, it is interesting that both the Republicans and the terrorists have adopted this strategy.
What the current administration has tried to do is the latter. The goal is to reduce people to dependent, cowering animals so that they will not challenge the acts of the administration.
Terrorists will take either response as either will further their goals. As long as the response is fight or flight, it is not investigate to find the causes and eliminate them.
However, if policy decisions are made that begin to eliminate the causes of terror, and thus fear, the fear no longer rules. We become " Too busy with the crowded hour to fear to live or die." (Emerson)
I refuse to live in fear and to give power to those who try to rule by fear. They cannot keep me from influencing the people and the environment in which I live. They cannot keep me from encouraging courage in those around me. Most Israelis have discovered this and go on with their lives in spite of the horror around them. Their government, alas, does not understand.
Perhaps Shakespeare's words can give resolve:
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
Thus will end the tyranny of fear.