Fear or great joy?
As we approach the run-off election for these critical U.S. Senate seats, I have noticed a pattern emerge that has troubled me for some time. Only this time, it seems more pronounced than in the past. Or, perhaps, I am just more aware.
Fear tactics abound during a season in which we reflect on a passage that says, “Fear not. I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be for all people.” Conservative ads bombard our screens often accusing immigrants, BIPOC and prominent democrats in an attempt to scapegoat all of them as the reasons for our troubles and warning that folks should be afraid of more woes to come.
These statements and suggestions are not only lies, but they also serve as a diversion from our current senators’ failures to work on behalf of all Georgians.
As the pandemic and division rage on, neither senator has exemplified leadership during these troubled times. Gabriel Sterling was right to rebuke them for their role in stoking fear and violence. Neither senator seems to care to hear from constituents who hold different views than them, as they take their cues from Donald Trump rather than everyday Georgians. Of course, being two of the wealthiest members of the Senate, what might they hold in common with folks like us who have been directly impacted by the surge of COVID-19 and the resulting economic impact?
Perhaps most disturbing to me is Kelly Loeffler’s use of sermons against Rev. Raphael Warnock. The Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount, the context for these sermons, are full of admonitions which surely create deep disturbance within conservative minds. Blessed are the poor. Blessed are the meek. No one can serve two masters. Do not judge. The mischaracterizations of
Rev. Warnock’s words remind me of the reactions of many when these words were first uttered over 2,000 years ago. They have always been divisive, scandalous and difficult to swallow for many. Through the centuries, they have been distorted and put on trial.
I am also concerned over a particular ad by David Perdue in which he stirs up fear while smiling at the camera. As a mental health professional and student of psychology, I immediately pick up when someone’s affect (their emotional expression) does not match their words or the heart of what they are saying. Often times, it means the person is hiding something, lying or uncomfortable with what they are saying.
The truth is that the election of democratic senators would result in a 50-50 balance within the U.S. Senate. While Vice President Kamala Harris would be a tie breaking vote, this would not be a clear majority restructuring the country as the ads try to make us believe. It is also true that no one is going to dismantle our police forces. Even the “Defund the Police” movement is not against the police force. Rather, it is to help allocate resources to help other services take care of situations in which force is not necessary, empowering our social workers to help in certain cases and allowing our officers to focus on public safety and fighting crime instead of mental health calls, nonviolent drug situations and more.
If we are not wealthy, our taxes are not going to be raised. I cringe when I hear the ultrawealthy convince everyday Americans that democrats are socialists. This is an old but still effective strategy in fear mongering.
As students of history, we would do ourselves a favor by looking into the times in our history when this tactic was used before against the inception of systems which we have in place today, such as Social Security and Medicare. We also would do well to look beyond our borders at what is working in other places in the world.
For example, I recently read a comment online against masks, saying that if they worked, we would already have been wearing them. In other highly populated countries, especially in Asia, folks have been wearing masks during outbreaks of SARS and influenza for years. In America, we often fail to consider perspectives, cultures, and structures outside of what we are used to. Truly, pride can be a downfall as we have seen in the great failures of the so-called “America First” approach.
I hope that as we grow, we can realize the great joy inherent in generosity and helping others. I hope that we can increase our knowledge and our actions in bringing forth change and reform that helps us be a truly great society, one of compassion and not fear.