FEAR ITSELF
Michael Hoban, Ph.D.

"Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" Franklin D. Roosevelt, March 4, 1933

It has been said that fear itself can freeze a nation's heart.
We now are seeing how that works as our leaders do their part

To keep a country steeped in fear so they can do their will
With color charts and words of woe to keep a people still.

Our leaders seem to really think their prophecies of doom
Will cow a nation to its knees and return us to the womb.

So they can use their twisted words to take away our right
To question how they choose to act in this our latest fight.

The Act meant to protect us they have bent to their own cause
So that their actions would (they hope) not give us thought to pause.

When I was young I knew for sure my country was so grand
It really was not possible to find a better land.

A country where the rich and poor were treated all the same
Where people came to seek a life that held no hint of shame.

Where anything was possible if one acted as one should
Prepared to work and sacrifice to aid the public good.

Of course, I came to realize as we all must now and then
That all was not so rosy in the land of Barb and Ken.

So much depended on the ones we chose to lead the land
To represent this brave new world and play our current hand.

To be our face to distant shores who may not know of us
That everything we stand for is for freedom and for trust.

When I was young there was a war in Europe and the East
We got involved and did our part to slay the savage Beast.

It was that very leader who had said in words so true
The only thing we had to fear was fear itself, you knew.

We sent our youth to fight a cause we all saw very clear
To save the world from tyranny and protect what we hold dear.

But since that time we have engaged in many others wars
Because our leaders seemed to think the threat was to our shores.

At least that's what they told us as our youth was sent to fight
(But was that really quite the case, we wonder - as we might.)

And now we are involved in another bloody strife
That saps our strength and makes us sad at the loss of so much life.

A SENSE OF PARANOIA HAS SWEPT OUR NATIVE LAND
Encouraged by the leaders we have asked to guide our hand.

They take advantage of our fear to do what e'er they will
And I for one am filled anew with a constant growing chill.

We were once warned that only fear could really do us harm
And here we are gripped with fear - which I view with alarm.

Our nation's still the strongest and our freedom still will stand
But ONLY if we speak our mind when those who lead the land

Seem drunk with endless power and will use just any force
Be it torture or just spying without the least remorse.

We know that power can corrupt - it is clear from other lands
But only if the people choose to sit upon their hands

And allow their pseudo leaders to always have their way -
Then we would know for certain that FEAR HAD WON THE DAY.

Michael Hoban, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of the City University of NY
He can be reached at mike_hoban@msn.com.