Can Fear Be Justified??? by Jonathan Lykes
This is in response to my good friend “Supernerdjlh” who chooses to remain nameless due to his “fear” that in the future his career could be jeopardized by the events written in this very blog. (I think I’m getting good at “opening up a can of worms”)
Can Fear Be Justified???
During College Orientation week in my first year at University of Chicago, the students had “forums” that were geared towards opening discussions about the various views on race, gender, and political background. In one of these sessions, this question was posed, “If you see a black man walking towards you at night, would you cross the street?” I of course was the only black student in the room and struggled not to be offended when I heard the shocking wave of answers. “Of course I would cross the street, I could get raped” One student answered. Another Student said, “I would be afraid of what might happen so I would cross the street to protect myself.” Being the person that I am, I spoke out and said it is ridiculous that someone would automatically stereotype a person by their skin color and justify their stereotypes because of some unjustified fear that the media and our culture has deceived them into believing.
When walking across the mid-way on my campus throughout the school year at night, I would notice many individuals literally attempt to avoid me. I would see people walk towards me, look at me, stop and awkwardly walk in another direction. Is this right? Is this fear justified?
The idea of “Unjustified Fear” extends beyond just the black race. In 9th grade I wrote a poem called perception. Here is a short excerpt from that poem.
You see an Arab man sitting next to you on a plane.
Your heart is pounding; your mind is going insane.
You automatically you think he is there to bring pain,
out to terrorize all for Allah’s gain.
But what will put you to shame is that he never hurt a soul in
his life
has three kids and a wife,
and on forth of July with everyone else he sings “Im proud to
be American”
Wrong perceptions.
(If you would like to read the entire poem or see it performed
go to this link: http://www.facinghistory.org/node/175)
Many of what I like to call “Sheltered Groups”—or groups that have not interacted with different environments and people—will fear the set of individuals that are unfamiliar to them. Some students on my campus fear me walking close to them at night, an American on a plane might fear someone of Islamic association—or someone Mexican for those who are extra-ignorant—and “Supernerd” fears crack users on the Roosevelt bus. This fear is dangerous. This fear is the very same thing that waters the roots of Jim Crow, Japanese internment camps, and Not-So-Patriot Acts. This fear is what starts wars and ends peace. When one group starts to fear another without trying to understand that every individual is different, it becomes a dangerous bomb waiting to explode.
I am not sure if I can judge other peoples fear, if I did I suppose I too would be guilty of the same offense that the fearers have committed against those who they fear. However I do offer this, always ask questions. Why do I fear this person? When did I start to fear this group? How would I feel in their situation? It is so amazing how things we learned in elementary school—like the golden rule—apply to our lives even more once we reach adulthood. Unfortunately, by that time, many of us have forgotten the lessons that would actually change the world beyond having an African-American president.
When we go public, I don’t think you should use the fact that supernerd is using a pseuedonym to criticize his position.
When we go public, I don’t think you should use the fact that supernerd is using a pseuedonym to criticize his position.
i have some real concerns about the kinds of assumptions i read you making in this piece, esp b/c the approach seems to be very similar to the very ones you’re objecting to. if you have problems with people drawing conclusions about alleged drug abusers, it would seem to me that you would not 1. make assumptions that people who hold such opinions are sheltered; 2. make such general assessments about said sheltered people; and 3. evaluate the legitimacy of fear in a way that devalues folks.
it seems that a more constructive approach would be to discuss what generates and drives those fears instead of deeming fear as illegitimate.
there’s so much more to say, but finally, i just want to echo ainsley about the choice to be anonymous on the internet, and say a bit more about it: people have real reasons for using pseudonyms on the internet and other places, and i think it’s important to respect that. further, i don’t think any of us using our gov’ts have the right to criticize folks for making that decision.
i have some real concerns about the kinds of assumptions i read you making in this piece, esp b/c the approach seems to be very similar to the very ones you’re objecting to. if you have problems with people drawing conclusions about alleged drug abusers, it would seem to me that you would not 1. make assumptions that people who hold such opinions are sheltered; 2. make such general assessments about said sheltered people; and 3. evaluate the legitimacy of fear in a way that devalues folks.
it seems that a more constructive approach would be to discuss what generates and drives those fears instead of deeming fear as illegitimate.
there’s so much more to say, but finally, i just want to echo ainsley about the choice to be anonymous on the internet, and say a bit more about it: people have real reasons for using pseudonyms on the internet and other places, and i think it’s important to respect that. further, i don’t think any of us using our gov’ts have the right to criticize folks for making that decision.
Thank you Ainsley and Summer for the critical analysis. I am still learning and definitely will use your comments to adjust things I say in my blogs.
Summer, you make a very good point in the “Judgmental Aspect” of my blog. In the last paragraph I mention my feelings of judging people’s fear, and through that act, the possibility of being guilty of what I am accusing them of doing.(Judging) The “Shelter Groups” that I discuss, should of been worded not as a generalization, but as an observation and a pattern that I have seen in my experience.
The whole blog was a question and me voicing things that have worried me in the past. Supernerd’s blog reminded me of that same trait I see in individuals who have one certain characteristic in common (Being Sheltered and being afraid of unfamiliar groups). I’m not sure if it is possible to critique that idea without it being judgmental.
And finally, the issue of using pseudonyms. In our meeting we had a heated conversation about this. I believe if you write it, you should also be able to own it. I have no problem with the idea of having a screen name or “stage name”, but it does not settle well for me to know people are doing it for the soul purpose of not taking ownership for their writing when it is opened for the public to see. However, I agree, once we go public, it would not be be a good idea to express that in a blog, especially when I strategically use it to criticize an individual’s opinion.
Thank you Ainsley and Summer for the critical analysis. I am still learning and definitely will use your comments to adjust things I say in my blogs.
Summer, you make a very good point in the “Judgmental Aspect” of my blog. In the last paragraph I mention my feelings of judging people’s fear, and through that act, the possibility of being guilty of what I am accusing them of doing.(Judging) The “Shelter Groups” that I discuss, should of been worded not as a generalization, but as an observation and a pattern that I have seen in my experience.
The whole blog was a question and me voicing things that have worried me in the past. Supernerd’s blog reminded me of that same trait I see in individuals who have one certain characteristic in common (Being Sheltered and being afraid of unfamiliar groups). I’m not sure if it is possible to critique that idea without it being judgmental.
And finally, the issue of using pseudonyms. In our meeting we had a heated conversation about this. I believe if you write it, you should also be able to own it. I have no problem with the idea of having a screen name or “stage name”, but it does not settle well for me to know people are doing it for the soul purpose of not taking ownership for their writing when it is opened for the public to see. However, I agree, once we go public, it would not be be a good idea to express that in a blog, especially when I strategically use it to criticize an individual’s opinion.
i’m glad i was helpful, but i want to press back on the idea that people use pseudonyms for the sole purpose of not taking ownership of their writing. though i would agree that many use anonymity to say things they otherwise would not, there are a myriad of real, tangible, and thoroughly legitimate reasons why folks would have some concern(s) about not using their real names on the internet. during our meeting, i did not get the impression that folks wanted to use pen names because they wanted to shirk the responsibility of their words. either way i think it’s important, at this early stage especially, to be respectful the decision.
i’m glad i was helpful, but i want to press back on the idea that people use pseudonyms for the sole purpose of not taking ownership of their writing. though i would agree that many use anonymity to say things they otherwise would not, there are a myriad of real, tangible, and thoroughly legitimate reasons why folks would have some concern(s) about not using their real names on the internet. during our meeting, i did not get the impression that folks wanted to use pen names because they wanted to shirk the responsibility of their words. either way i think it’s important, at this early stage especially, to be respectful the decision.
I think we make judgments all the time and it is fine for you to make judgements about what supernerd and others post and things that you observe in the world. The problem with your first post is that you want to judge what supernerd posted but you focused on his decision to remain anonymous. This really stands out b/c your whole post is inspired by/ a response to what supernerd wrote. You’re right that being more specific (and perhaps providing more background information – like what you found particularly problematic about supernerd’s fear or his representation of his fear) will definitely fix the generalization problem.
But you should also ask yourself if being sheltered is the only thing at work here. I know many people who we wouldn’t consider as ‘sheltered’ who might be afraid in the various situations that you outlined in the post or may be afraid if someone got on a bus and started snorting cocaine next to them. Is there something else going on in supernerds post that makes you question this particular impulse of fear?
To end, I like that you are very bold and candid about what you think in your post. Maintaining this in future post will be great.
I think we make judgments all the time and it is fine for you to make judgements about what supernerd and others post and things that you observe in the world. The problem with your first post is that you want to judge what supernerd posted but you focused on his decision to remain anonymous. This really stands out b/c your whole post is inspired by/ a response to what supernerd wrote. You’re right that being more specific (and perhaps providing more background information – like what you found particularly problematic about supernerd’s fear or his representation of his fear) will definitely fix the generalization problem.
But you should also ask yourself if being sheltered is the only thing at work here. I know many people who we wouldn’t consider as ‘sheltered’ who might be afraid in the various situations that you outlined in the post or may be afraid if someone got on a bus and started snorting cocaine next to them. Is there something else going on in supernerds post that makes you question this particular impulse of fear?
To end, I like that you are very bold and candid about what you think in your post. Maintaining this in future post will be great.
Thanks. You are absolutely right. We none of us examine our fear. We only think,”I am afraid, and therefore, I am right to do what I am doing.” How do we feed bravery to counter our fear? Again, thanks.