May I Confess To Being Very Afraid?

[Demeter]

I'm not afraid of individual people--not so much. And I'm not just afraid for myself or my kids, although I'm feeling we are really vulnerable and undefended of late.

I am afraid for almost all the people of this nation, anyone not in the top 2% of the economy. And that's a lot of fear to contain.

Were we united in purpose and principle, I would not be afraid. But I have seen such narcissism, such selfishness even in situations where it serves no purpose whatsoever, that I would be unable to trust that people would make common cause.

I have seen the religion of Christ turned into some horrible parody of itself for money and power.
I have seen our democratic foundation systematically razed, and nothing replaces it. I have seen government cease to function, and the economy is in its death throes, although nobody notices.

I don't see the way out, or even the way through this all. And that is what scares me the most.

[Bobbieo]

1. Believe me, Demeter, you are not alone!!!!

[Cabcere]

2. I don't know if it helps at all, but you're not alone.

:hug: :scared: I'm afraid too, and kind of depressed as well. :( Things are NOT looking good. :hug:

[Hydra]

3. If you aren't afraid, you aren't paying attention

but I'm sick of trying to explain to people how our gov't is screwing us over. Either you see it, or you don't.

[FreepFryer]

4. We have built a society that values ruthlessness over love. Untenable, and so sad. (n/t)

[Mike03]

5. Thank you, this was the kind of post I have been waiting to see

Just something from the heart.

Your fears are mine as well.

This is the place I used to come to feel some kind of unity with others, but now it is just totally debased, but it is so nice to read something like this.

Thank you.

[lonestarnot]

6. I am pissed and the unknown can be scarey if you let it scare you.

We torture people. That is something to fear.

[FloridaJudy]

7. I too am afraid

The present Regime has screwed this country up in every imaginable way. I fear it's going to take at least a generation to undo the damage. I fear even more that it cannot ever be undone.

I'll keep fighting to get the best Dem possible into the White House. Otherwise there's little hope.

[Gregorian]

8. With all respect, welcome to the human race.

There are exceptions. There are kind people. And there have been times of generosity and peace. But on average, it's far easier to fall into the lowest common denominator of hate and greed.

The way I see it is, we could turn this mess around in ten minutes. It's just an attitude. Caring. That always looms on the horizon. There is always optimism. Tomorrow we may shut down the School of the Americas. And maybe turn the world economy into something beneficial for all. It could happen. But right now we are doing what humans have done since all of eternity. Slacking off. And I see it just as I see what it takes to get one's body into shape. Are you fat and lazy? That's easy. But are you fit and healthy? That's hard.

It's hard to be loving and caring. But it pays off. When people see this, they'll finally give up their greed and fear, and start living WITH one another.

Don't be afraid. Deal with "right now". It's all that exists.

[some guy]

14. Nice post.

:applause:

:hug:

[Chulanowa]

9. You want scary? Forget Americna politics.

We're a pimple on the left asscheek of history. Forget America. I know, it's hard, most of us live here. But if you want something to worry about...

There are seven billion people on this earth, or thereabouts. Try to picture that many people. We are likely the first and only large animal to achieve a population measured in billion figures. And that's only within the last century or so that we have done so. How have we managed? The wonders of science. new goods, new ways to get water, new medicines. Where do we get the science?

Oil. Oil fuels our transit. It fertilizes our crops. it forges the pipes and powers the pumps. it provides sources for the plastics and metals and chemicals and all the other million things our giant population relies on.

Oil is also running out. What happens when the last oil field runs dry, as it surely will with the current population growth? How many billions of people will there be when the last oil field on earth makes an obscene "slurk!" noise?

More to the point, how many of them will be left the year after hearing that noise?

It's a terrifying prospect.

[tavalon]

11. Oh, come on, it's not that bad

Years before that sound comes, mother nature will have already wiped out most of the world's population.

[Gregorian]

17. Wow.

You're one of few.

I'm not sure what to say. I just know that your post could have been directly out of my mouth. Brilliant. You see it. I wonder if you are an engineer. Or how you came to see it.

I continue to have talks with my old dad about this subject. We've been having them for decades. Right now we're where we should have been in 1970. Just starting to make the big changes necessary for the world population to try and survive. And most people still don't even care enough to look. Or just can't see.

Now we're dependent. And it should be very frightening for everyone.

I don't know what to say. I'm kind of blabbing. It's good to meet someone else who sees.

[blm]

10. The democratic foundation HAS been razed and replaced with fascism -

unfortunately.

[blues90]

12. It is scary

There has always been uncertainly however for the most part people could get around that feeling with ways to deal depending on the person .

There is only the moment because you never know what day will be your last , this could be just a drive to the store or a health issue , anything .

This point in time is different because the risks have increased . At one time people could keep a job and make their bills and raise their family .

Beside this being stripped way for many so has the feeling that we could keep up these ideas without paying the price .

We don't see the worst of what's happened in Iraq , we don't see the worst that's happened to the poor , it's not in the news , the news is a seditive , a daily injection that allows denial until it hits you directly .

What we see on the TV screen is nothing in comparison to the real thing and what we hear on the radio are words of description that even the best only can give a small part of the real picture to create an image in our minds .

I am scared most of the time because I can't sit in denial , there is no security that one can count on anylonger . The older you become I find the more you are left out of the picture and the plans for whatever future there may be .

Each time people like Alberto G or Karl Rove and others before have left it seemed we were gaining ground , the 2006 elections seemed like we gained ground but we have not , this machine just continues to roll along unhampered and this is the scary part . Not knowing is the scary part .

[OneBlueSky]

13. without a doubt, we are in the most frightening time in our history . . .

the war, global warming, environmental destruction, stolen elections, nascent totalitarianism in the U.S., an economy (and a dollar) on the verge of collapse, an evil maniac in the White House . . . it don't get much scarier than this . . . and the most frightening part is . . .

the worst is yet to come . . .

[donheld]

15. I'm with you Sir

I wish I was more hopeful, but I can't be.

[liberalla]

16. I'm not as scared as I used to be, and I'm glad of that!

I used to be terrified and just KNEW we were heading down down down... This lasted from 2003 to early this year.

What happened? I'm not sure exactly. The best explanation I've heard was from Naomi Klein and her book The Shock Doctrine. We've been terrorized by our government. We become numb and off balance. The good news is that it wears off. We don't remain in the terrified, fearful state forever. The shock wears off and then we can purposely act in a manner that we choose.

I don't like what's going on. I don't know how this is going to end. BUT, I'm not gripped by fear and in a state of shock any longer. That's a good thing.

[The2ndWheel]

18. If physical reality catches up to us, it's going to suck (nt)

[Javaman]

19. One day...

one of us will be walking down the street, a total stranger will ask us for our ID. Offended, we refuse. From behind you, two men will grab you by the arms, you will protest, you will yell for help. People nearby will shun their eyes and keep walking. Some will think you deserve it, others will think you are a criminal, others will think you are an enemy of the state, but worse still, others will walk by without a care.

will have been effectively erased.

read "Gulag Archipelago".

it can happen here.

[On the Road]

20. I See a Lot of Working Class People as a Landlord

and can also see the systematic lowering of standards and the havoc that is caused by health problems, irregular employment, and the prison system. The advantage is that the tide can change with a single election. I believe choosing Dean as DNC chair was the first part of the solution.

As far as Christianity goes, thank God we're no longer in the days of religious wars and the divine right of kings.

[Mugu]

21. Well, just remember that it's always darkest just before

it's pitch black.