I love to read – especially very
well written novels. I love Barbara Kingsolver, John Lescroart, John LeCarre,
PD James, Jonathan Kellerman, et.al. I have “found” a new writer from Norway.
His name is Jo Nesbo and he writes mysteries, generally set in Oslo. His
protagonist is a detective named Harry Hole (pronounced Hoo-Ley). The stories
are complicated, involved, very human, and superbly crafted. Many times in
these messages I have quoted excerpts from some of these authors. Today is the no
exception.
In the first Harry Hole novel,
entitled “The Bat,” there is the following exchange between Harry and a recent
love interest named Birgitta. The couple is in Sydney, Australia:
“They walked on. Harry glanced up and down the street. They were almost
the only mixed-sex couple in Oxford Street. Birgitta held his hand.
“’You should see the gay pride parade during Mardi Gras,’ Birgitta
said. ‘It goes down Oxford Street here. Last year they said over half a million
people came from all over Australia to watch and take part. It was crazy.’
“Gay street. Lesbian street. It was only now that he noticed the
clothes exhibited in the shop windows. Latex. Leather. Tight tops and tiny silk
panties. Zips and rivets. Exclusive, though stylish, not the sweaty, vulgar
stuff that permeated the strip clubs in King’s Cross.
“There was a gay man who lived nearby when I was growing up,’ Harry recounted.
‘He must have been forty or so, lived alone, and everyone in the neighborhood
knew he was gay. In the winter we threw snowballs at him, shouted ‘buttf***er’
then all ran like mad, convinced he would give us one up the backside if he
caught us. But he never came after us, just pulled his hat further down over
his ears and walked home. One day, suddenly, he moved. He never did anything to
me, and I’ve always wondered why I hated him so much.’
“’People are afraid of what they don’t understand. And hate what
they’re afraid of.’” [Jo Nesbo, The Bat, Vintage Books, 2013, p. 116]
Such a simple statement that
explains so much of what is happening here in America as well as around the
world. ’People are afraid of what they
don’t understand. And hate what they’re afraid of.’ I might add, as well,
people have become afraid of trying to comprehend what they don’t understand.
Because of their fear they simply hunker down to relish their constant belief
that they’re right – and you’re wrong.
What is sickening to me,
however, is how populations (including ours) are being played – by whomever –
by having our fears and subsequent hates stoked and nourished. Apparently, this
approach to mass persuasion is very common and, thus, must be very effective. Beyond
our own politics, we just have to look at how Israel needs to demonize
Palestinians, Iranians, and Syrians. Or how Palestinians need to demonize
Israel and its closest ally the USA. Or how Muslims need to demonize the
western ‘civilized’ nations in order to galvanize their sectarian
constituencies.
Fear can be addictive. Back in
the 1990s I remember a popular bumper sticker: “If you’re not afraid and scared, you’re not paying attention.” I’m
reminded, as well, by the lyrics to a song in the musical South Pacific: “You
have to be taught to hate….”
Although both political parties
use fear, the Republicans are the absolute masters of it. Democrats may imply
that to vote Republican will be a vote to go back to the 1950s. Republicans, on
the other hand, will tell you directly that to vote Democratic will bring an
end to the world, minorities will overrun us, God will turn His back on us, and
Muslims will eat our children alive while gays and lesbians cheer. They believe
that to win an election they must scare their constituencies to death and
demonize their opponents as being evil, un-American, unpatriotic, and
unchristian.
It’s a shame that we apparently fall
for that and reward that approach with election victories.
ACIM teaches me that all my
thoughts can be distilled to being either of Fear or Love. No exceptions! It
also proclaims that Fear is the opposite of Love. I must always steel myself to
pause and think about where my fears are coming from. When I do this, I
inevitably understand that my fear is always coming only from between my ears.
I can learn to control that with the help of the Holy Spirit. All I have to do
is earnestly ask for His help in seeing another way to look at situations or
people.
That’s hard for me at times
because I love hating haters. God smiles and shakes His head – I’m still a work
in progress.
Although these messages are
mostly for me, thanks for listening. As always – feel free to forward this
message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual
journey.
Don
#5 Oct 2015
Copyright 2015
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