Organizing for America | Dan Luther's Blog: Hope and Fear

Hope and Fear

By Dan Luther - Jul 26th, 2008 at 12:03 pm EDT

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We can certainly see the lines drawn in this Presidential race along two very powerful undercurrents: hope and fear.

Barack Obama embodies hope, and indeed we can see those who support him drawn to the message of hope: hope for change, hope for prosperity, hope for democracy, hope for freedom.

It's a very powerful current, and it resonates well with those who see their situation not for what it is, but for what it can become. These are the builders, the planners, the visionaries among us who assess the current situation and, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, have a plan for transformation.

Then we have those who are motivated by fear. Republicans have long owned this undercurrent, and it too is powerful, arguably more powerful than hope because fear and despair go hand in hand, and yet it is so easy to give in to the fear. Fear of terrorism, fear of taxes, fear of failure, and most importantly, fear of change. Republicans are masters at using fear to motivate people because fear really requires so little in the way of evidence, and people can be easily led to do nearly anything when you play upon their fears.

Just look at the Bush administration: they played upon the fears of Americans, displaying evidence that was flimsy at best, and led them to renounce a full four of their essential liberties guaranteed in our Bill of Rights, all out of fear. And what did we get in return for this? A color chart telling us how afraid we should be on any given day. Again, two terms of an administration to prove that you can win by telling people who they should be afraid of, and who to blame.

John McCain has also owned this fear, clearly stating in his campaign ads "don't hope for change." What happened here? This was supposed to be a hero, a man of courage and valor, now embracing fear and despair.

We call people who give into fear cowards. And I have to tell you, America was not built by cowards. It was built by the courageous, those who put aside their fears, faced them down and built upon their highest hopes, impossible dreams, and greatest aspirations. I cannot think of any great American who has told us to be afraid. Indeed, the greatest American of the greatest generation, Franklin Delano Roosevelt famously proclaimed that "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."

So when you encounter those who tell you to be afraid, remember that they're actually telling you to be a coward.

Be better than that. Vote for hope. Vote for change. Vote for Obama.

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Hope will always win | Report to Admin

By Rev. Mason Jul 27th 2008 at 12:05 pm EDT

Hope will always win. That's why Obama has inspired so many people, some to the point of fanaticism (bless their hearts...seeing a light at the end of the tunnel IS thrilling).

The USA is a country that came about because of hope. For decades, we shared our hope with the rest of the world. That's why people from other nations want to come here.

Obama will be our next POTUS and I am happy about that and plan to vote for him in Novemeber. The neocon whip of fear is failing.

That said, it's our job, as citizens and voters to make sure that we keep a close eye on things. We need to make sure our Constitution is protected and remains in force.

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