Issues Under Fire: Last Stop: America The Fearful

Issues Under Fire: Last Stop: America The Fearful 

Apologies all around for closing out 2015 early, but after reviewing this year's postings and podcast, America's most critical issues have already been addressed. And from this observer's perspective, the simplest solution to most of those critical issues is America overcoming its fears. If the United States would simply grow a pair, Americans could stop being afraid all the time. Americans seem to be afraid of almost everyone. Americans are even afraid of themselves. 

Americans are afraid of the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians, almost all of Latin America, all Muslim countries and by extension, all people of the Muslim faith. Americans are afraid of all Black people. It doesn't matter if they're African American, from the Caribbean, South America or the continent of Africa. If the color of the person's skin is dark, precautions should be taken. And, it should go without saying, many people of color in America are afraid of the White people in America. And that's just the way it is.

Americans are even afraid their European allies. Why else would the United States spy on them? What do Americans think their allies are planning to do against America behind its back? Why would the Americans listen in on the German Chancellor's cell phone? What did the Americans expect to uncover while monitoring the French president's communications. If it wasn't fear of the unknown, what was driving the irrational need to know? 

Americans are even afraid of the United States government. When many Americans purchase a firearm, its not only to protect themselves from criminals and terrorist, the firearm was also purchased to protect themselves from "U.S. authorities". Many Americans fear big government. Many Americans think their government is out to get them. Many more Americans have grown to fear the very politicians they voted to represent them. Many more Americans fear the police. Many American police officers fear the very Americans the're sworn to protect. Armed or not, that's what the police always says when they kill an American. "I was in fear of my life. 

Thankfully, the international community has other nations and world leaders to look to for examples of bravery in the face of a crisis. Thankfully, leaders like Germany's Angela Merkel stepped up in the face of fire and opened its borders to Syrian refugees running for their lives. Thankfully, Canada's Justin Trudeau followed Angela Merkel's lead. Thankfully, the French people rebuked far Right Marine Le Pen's National Front Party in the its latest round of fear driven elections. Thankfully, the world has other examples of exceptionalism to look to when seeking rational solution to irrational situations. 

Bottom line: There is enough fear in America to send shivers around the world. And, there are enough guns in America to arm every frightened American to the teeth. Unfortunately, the only thing more frightening than a frightened American armed with a gun, is a lot of frightened Americans with a lot of guns. Since there's little left to allay America's fears, this is where we get off. Podcast below!