Fear, As the cause of Intolerance

 

      Intolerance of Uncertainty

The uncertainty about the future, the economic crisis, the deteriorated quality of life, a questioning of the values ​​of always and a professionalized political praxis, that connects badly with the street, maintain an attitude defensive and little trusting to the average citizen, used to suspecting everything.

Intolerance arises when it is believed that the "other" wants to take what is ours from us. Hence the suspicion that is experienced against someone who is not from the same geographical area, or against someone who, living next door "forever", has different signs of identity or has other ideas, because they are from a different generation. All of them are ready to jump on "our" identity and make it disappear. Ultimately, it is fear that breeds intolerant.

Juan Masiá spoken of fear as a "root of intolerance" and made a catalogue of fears that hardly anyone gets rid of, at least some of them: fear of being invaded our territory ( fear, for example, that build social housing in "our" neighbourhood); fear of losing in someone else's field (the arrival of new ones can alter habits and customs, or simply question them  ); fear that our rhythm of life will be altered (Latin American "slowness"  is (un) described as vagueria; and "promptness" German, from inhumane); fear of missing the train due to age (the new generations, with their ideas and customs, getting rid of the "always" thing); "Fear of losing power" (stop influencing); fear of losing one's word (to cultural changes); to lose identity (to allow life to  be questioned). That is to say: "We are full of fear" and, therefore, on the verge of intolerance. It does not hurt to realize the fears that inhabit us, not to believe ourselves above good and evil, judging others without compassion. We will then learn to better handle reality and process it more evangelically, if we have the conviction that the gospel is "God's force to transform the world".

It is clear, then, that, although the concept of equality and respect for what is different is held in mind, we are, in fact, trapped in the irrationality that causes so many fears. But, since fear and irrationality have a lot of shame and pain, they tend to camouflage themselves in apparently rational and human attitudes.

One of them, for example, is to say that the "other" (immigrant, gypsy, ex-prisoner, drug addict ...) does not exist, just because it is not easy to assimilate into the generality. That is, it is recognized, but "denying" it with a thousand qualifiers: illiterate, uneducated, ignorant, unsociable ... They exist, but they are not recognized in equality and dignity; it is reasonable to leave them "out."

Another attitude is to acknowledge their difference, but only formally, since to enter into dialogue with them we ask them to behave like us, speak our language and have similar feelings. We are at their side from a certain moral superiority, and it seems reasonable to ask them to assimilate to us. We act from the pretence of believing that ours is the best. They are attitudes that are in everyday behaviours, but there are also philosophies that give them ideological coverage.

Both attitudes renounce making the word and communication channels of rapprochement and otherness. And, as they work especially in difficult times, COVID-19 PADEMIC there is almost never dialogue in neighbourhood conflicts; screaming, all the more. The word does not exist, and solidarity becomes impossible: how to cover, then, the manifest lack and inequality in which others almost always find themselves? It seems that without solidarity it will not be possible to break the asymmetry in which the different are always. Only solidarity can bridge the enormous distance that separates the conflict from its solution, because it creates the extra neighbourhood necessary to reach the perspective of the "other" and reach their weakness and defencelessness.

We are summoned to engender solidarity from our civic and pastoral platforms. But bringing more justice and coexistence to the society will not be possible without skill and patience, through participation and dialogue, making possible the reception and integration of the most defenceless and injured. We can do something about the pain of each one us that is experiencing for example; the covid-19 disease, the death of our dear ones, loss of employment etc. 

 

References

Juan MASÍA, “Fear, root of intolerance”: Sal Terrae 959 (July-August 1993)

Rm 1, 16; cf. Andrés TORNOS, “Daily life, field of evangelization”: Sal Terrae 958 (June 1993), pg. 437-451.

Cf. José R. LOPEZ DE LA OSA, “The capital sin of ignoring the cultural plurality”: Sal Terrae 959 (July-August 1993), pg. 555-565.

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