This is the right moment to talk about fear.
It was fear of the coronavirus spreading in countries like Iran and Italy that sent the Dow Jones Industrials plummeting 1,000 points today, even though the virus has seemed to plateau in China, the country of origin.
It was the Chinese leadership’s fear of losing face, power and money that prevented prompt action on the virus in the first place.
It is the Democrats’ fear that the front-running Bernie Sanders will gain the nomination and not only lose to Trump with his Castro-wasn’t-so-bad socialism for all but will cost the Dems down ticket.
It is fear that is driving the anti-Muslim rhetoric of Prime Minister Nahrendra Modi’s new immigration policy in India, where many Hindus are hailing a visiting President Donald J. Trump as a god. (So good to see him and Melania at a Taj Mahal that isn’t in New Jersey.)
Fear is a funny thing. On the one hand, it can paralyze you. That’s what President Franklin D. Roosevelt meant when he said in his First Inaugural Address:
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is .fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”
FDR’s address presupposed a leader to whom the people would gladly lend their support — himself. But we are a long way from someone who knew how to wield power and not merely horde it. Indeed, the crisis in leadership worldwide is what is exacerbating the fear of fear itself. We are facing many grave crises, but they are multiplied by the realization that there is no one at the rudder, at least no one who is not interested in himself first and foremost.
But if fear can paralyze, it can also set you free. Once you have nothing to lose, everything is possible. Once you have been paralyzed psychologically, you understand that stasis is a kind of living death. Now is not the time to succumb to it. Now is the time to take considered action.
Begin small — with yourself, your home, your community. Seek improvement there and it will radiate outward to the world.
In a rudderless time, we must become leaders ourselves of ourselves.