FEAR: The Great Persuader

Broadly defined, 'homophobia' is a term used to describe discrimination in word, deed or attitude against members of the LGBTQ Community. It is often associated with HATRED of queer people in general.

But the suffix of the word is 'phobia' -- which literally means fear. And, according to Wikipedia, "fear is a distressing emotion caused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc, especially dread to meet or experience the danger".

So, in reality, homophobes do not so much HATE us as they FEAR us. And, as you know, fear leads to anger, which leads to hate which leads to suffering and discrimination and violence and...

Homophobia is just one brand of fear being sold in America today. It seems that today, fear has permeated our entire culture:

• Fear of terrorists and terrorism

• Fear of Hell

• Fear of Death

• Fear of Muslims

• Fear of 'Illegal Immigrants'

• Fear of imports

• Fear of... each other

Fear is a perfect tool for manipulating society in order to further an agenda that would otherwise be unattainable.

"It's fear of the unknown. The unknown is what it is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybody scurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, all that--it's all illusion." John Lennon

The Bush Crime Family are master fear peddlers. They have managed to grab more power and money for themselves and their neo-con minions than even they could have imagined in their wildest dreams.

They have eviscerated the Constitution and weakened the Republic more effectively than Osama bin Ladin could ever have accomplished by bombing cities or flying airplanes into buildings.

And yet, because we are afraid, we let them get away with it.

Dorothy Thompson once said that "the most destructive element in the human mind is fear."

And Bush is at it again. He is on a furious campaign to frighten us with lies that tie al Qaeda with September 11. He wants to scare you into supporting his illegal war. He hopes you will agree to give up more of your freedoms. He wants you to unquestioningly let him torture, spy and imprison. He hopes you will be too frightened to care as he, Cheney and Rove manipulate the system so there are no checks and balances and until the Republican Party and the neo-cons can freely dominate American policy for many years to come.

We need to wake up! It's time to come out from under the bed and face the fact that the only thing we have to fear is our own stupidity, our own gullibility and our own willingness to be enslaved and intimidated by governmental and corporate propaganda!

Please read this article for a great synopsis of how terrifying the future may soon look if we do not stand up to the true threats!