The Plague of Fear
News reports have indicated that the Taliban appear to have completely taken over control of Afghanistan within the space of only two weeks. Even the greatest militaries in the world would not be capable of such a feat, as many have tried. The actions of the Taliban went predominantly unchallenged even though they are vastly outnumbered by the better equipped and better trained army of the Afghan Republic. Even though their regime of terror inciting law is opposed by the majority of the population, even though the oppressive manner of their society is abhorred, even though it is apparent that lies were the foundation of any professed treaty – they were unchallenged. Is this the sole outcome of the last 20 years? To have the legacy of fighting for democracy and liberty erased so quickly? To have all the economic and social advances traded so carelessly for extremism? Perhaps the mission of coalition forces over the last 20 years should have been to arm and train all the women and children of Afghanistan, those facing the most oppression. I can’t imagine they would have given up on their freedom so easily. It would be naïve of me to assume that the presence of coalition forces for so long would only represent a legacy of justice and equality, it is also naïve to assume that we understand the culture of a country that has been torn between so many empires and conflicts for generations. This was never just a war against a terror harboring tribe but a war against ideologies, a proxy war against Russia and Pakistan and all others who would like to see the countries of the coalition forces fail. But to have any semblance of a positive legacy actually amount to nothing?
It seems that the Taliban wield fear as a weapon more formidable than any conventional one that would be used against them. The history of their murders, tortures, and the oppression of those who even hinted at opposing them in the past was and is enough to change the external attitudes of the society they now dominate. Those in leadership, with perhaps the power to motivate and the opportunity to lead any sort of resistance appear to have only used their power to flee. It should be obvious by now that an ideology cannot be bombed out of existence. Ideologues are patient. But this is a lesson that many great empires have never learned.
Despite this I find myself asking, what was the alternative? To have a foreign nation, the United States, continue their presence indefinitely? To engage the national army in the defense of the cities, resulting in countless civilian casualties and perhaps an unending civil war? Being so far removed and sheltered from the reality there on the ground I recognize that my criticism is likely too subjective. Would I volunteer to fight, knowing that as a result my family and all who know me might also face consequences such as murder and torture? Would I be able to evade the plague of fear that is transmitted so effectively through propaganda? My own American pride answers yes without question, but in reality, pride often offers no such resolution.
In my own country some struggle with fear from a different source. The fear of mistrust. I make no direct comparison to the situation in Afghanistan except that fear can manifest in different ways. Having been granted the power to suppress the pandemic through vaccines and other voluntary measures, and yet in many cases it is because of our own pride that it continues to affect the lives of so many. Though I understand; we don’t want our government telling us what to do or compel us to do anything we don’t want to. We feel it is our right and even our responsibility to resist such things. But to what end? Is this national feeling caused by fear, pride, or by a compassionate understanding of what happens to a population when a government does cross the line between good intentions and oppression? I feel that our generations are too far removed from the far-reaching conflicts that defined the early 20th century or even from September 11, 2001 for it to be the latter. And the vitriol heard so frequently in our media has the greater appearance of the former. Whether caused by pride or fear both will lead to some sort of destruction.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
- Luke 21:25-26
Is it oppressive to have to wear a mask during a pandemic? Is it oppressive to require a vaccination? Is it oppressive to require physical distancing? We squabble with these tedious obligations while abroad there are those who are compelled to act in extremes that make our own responsibilities trivial.
The answers we require will never come from pride and good intentions, but by enough humility to see truth. We need to decide now whether we will choose humility or wait for the time that will surely come that we will be made humble.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
- Proverbs 18:12
Is it pride or fear that motivates you? We can know if our attitudes and actions are motivated by love. Love does not produce pride and fear. A love and desire for the wellbeing of others will only produce humility. If it is fear then the only outcome can be exactly that which you are afraid of.
“Fear makes come true that which one is afraid of”
- Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Freedom is not free, it has a price and there must be those willing to pay it. Whether it’s freedom from fear, from pride or from oppression we have to be willing to earn it. We have been taught the way that we should go. We have countless examples both past and present of the consequences of fear. Humility is the only weapon powerful enough to overcome it.
