“Naturally the common people don’t want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY.” Herman Göhring at the Nuremberg Trials

Like many of us I live my life in fear, fear of being robbed, fear of suffering and fear of death. After the tragedy in Paris we have become more a Nation of Fear. We fear a terrorist attack on our cities. France and the USA retaliate for the bombing in Paris by bombing Syria. Politicians and Governors, out of fear, say they will not accept any refuges from Syria, particularly if they are Muslim. Herman Gohring, Propagandist for Third Reich, at Nuremberg trials understood this and it is reflected in the quote above.

We get messages from our alderman and a few neighbors about strangers in the neighborhood, about any home robbery or suspicious behavior. After a tragic event like the Paris bombings we get news story after news story talking about the threat to us. Fear is used to drive soldiers to shoot to kill on instinct and without conscience. Our enemies used fear also. ISIS published a video today spawning fear in the hearts of USA.

Living a life in fear may explain why I am attracting to the refrain of Jesus in the Gospel: “Be Not Afraid”. How can we follow the Gospel value of “Love your enemies” when we live in such fear. A friend of mine, Jim Forest, in Holland wrote a book recently called Loving Our Enemies: Reflections on the Hardest Commandment. Now I feel like I need to read it.

Justice these days seems to mean retaliation, revenge, killing the enemy. This culture of fear makes “loving our enemies” nearly impossible. Our enemy, ISIS, knows this and plans such horrendous events, like killings in Paris, to incite fear. We retaliate with bombings of Syria and discrimination against Syrians, although they are often the victims of such violence.

Fear rules on all levels. Supporters of guns in the USA say that we would all be safer carrying around a gun. The bombings in Paris are met with bombings in Syria. Killing is met with killing and some say peace can only be achieved by war. We live in a culture of Fear.

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