Fear, history and the choices before us

Every age believes its troubles are new. In some ways, they are. But human nature changes little. Men and women are moved by fear, hope and the desire to belong. These forces can build societies — or destroy them.

History shows a familiar pattern. When nations face rapid change, economic hardship or uncertainty, people grow restless. In those moments, there are always individuals willing to profit. They plant fear, suspicion and false promises. They claim salvation lies with them alone. Too often, people listen.

Germany after World War I offers one example. A proud nation was brought low. People were hungry, anxious and despairing. Then came leaders with simple slogans and convenient scapegoats. They claimed betrayal and promised restored greatness. The result was tyranny, war and the murder of millions. The German people suffered immensely.

Under Stalin in the Soviet Union, neighbors were taught to fear neighbors. Families turned on one another. Truth disappeared. Power and wealth flowed upward, while millions suffered.

In Rwanda in the 1990s, repeated words over the airwaves dehumanized an entire people. Fear became a call to violence. In a short time, thousands were killed.

Closer to home, the McCarthy era showed how fear can damage a free society without a single shot fired. Accusations replaced evidence. Careers were destroyed. Trust eroded. Many lives were harmed, and the nation was weakened.

The method is consistent. Real grievances are identified. Complex problems are reduced to simple villains. Fearful messages are repeated until they feel like truth. Grand promises are made — safety, purity, perfection. Power concentrates. Dissent is punished. Those at the top grow richer and stronger, leaving broken promises behind.

What is different now is speed.

Modern digital platforms allow persuasive narratives — true, half-true or false — to spread instantly and globally. Algorithms often reward outrage and fear rather than careful thought. Whether by design or consequence, the result is the same: mistrust deepens, hearts harden and thoughtful disagreement disappears.

Real problems do exist. Poverty, illness, crime and ignorance are real. They require courage and reason to address. But history warns that how we respond matters as much as the problems themselves.

When fear replaces thought, when loyalty replaces evidence, when neighbors become enemies, a society harms itself. In plain terms, we risk throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

A free people must value truth. They must tolerate complexity. They must be willing to change their minds when evidence demands it. These are not abstract ideals — they are tools of survival.

The remedy is simple, if not easy. Pause before spreading fear. Ask where the message comes from. Seek more than one account. Separate fact from opinion. Treat all people as human beings first.

These actions will not make headlines. They will not bring fame. But they protect the heart of a free society.

History offers warnings. The choice remains ours. Will we act on reason or reflex? Will fear govern us, or will we govern with reflection? Will we follow self-serving manipulators, or think for ourselves?

I have made my choice. Now the choice is yours. It deserves serious thought.

We worked for this country. We cherished it. We fought for it. It was hard-won. Do not let it slip away — because you may not get the chance again.

Richard Reick

Dellroy