There is nothing to fear except fear itself

This is one of the best advice from a headmaster when I was in standard four in primary school. I think I was ten years old then.

Today, we are reminded about fearing fear. Our parish priest, Father Fabian gave us this reflection for the week. I wish to share with others and hope more people will put their voices together to call for the abolishment of ISA.

THE FEAR FACTOR

For the past few weeks the ISA has for the most part dominated the news especially the alternative media. The plight of those detained under this Act has resurfaced especially with the recent arrests which have accentuated the fact that the ISA, instead of being used as it was originally intended, to free the nation from the fear of insurrection, has long been used to perpetuate fear, fear amongst us to the extent that we may have been willing to compromise on the most basic of human rights.

It would seem that we have so many fears – fear of dying, fear of not living up to the expectations of others, fear of failure… the list goes on. Fear is crippling, it strangles our spirit and drowns our hopes. Have we allowed our fears to colour our attitude towards life, made us complacent when political and religious systems are oppressive?

The problem with being afraid is that it makes loving, Christ-like actions nearly impossible. If you are living in fear, anxiety, terror, you cannot be an effective disciple of Christ. In fear, we commit terrible errors. In fear, we justify hatred. In fear we accept the status quo.

I sense an unwarranted fear amongst us with regard to the ISA. If we experience that fear now then the evil intended by the abusers of this law has won the day. We need to confront our fears with the truth.

The truth is that the ISA is unlawful, inhumane

The truth is that the ISA has been used to instil fear amongst us

The truth is that the ISA can be ABOLISHED. 

The irony is that the very people who use it fear the truth of integrity, the truth of democracy, the truth of justice, the truth of the peoples’ power and therefore we have to claim back the power for fear is not a factor anymore.

One of the clearest messages in the bible is “be not afraid.” God says it repeatedly in the Scriptures. Jesus says it over and over again to the disciples and anyone else within earshot.

We must believe in the human spirit, that it is more resilient than we give it credit. The paradox of fear is to learn how confronting them is the first step to diminishing them. What we need is patience and hope and with it comes perseverance. We must continue in our efforts to show our dissent for as I mentioned in the last week’s bulletin, the power of the ordinary individual is to be reckoned with when he believes strongly enough in a cause – the ripples he creates will eventually create a wave – and we see the momentum of waves increasing slowly but surely.

The various initiatives that have been launched must be sustained if not increased. Let us not rest until we see the end of the ISA.

Remember the ISA badges, the purple ribbons, the 9.00pm vigils on Fridays in front of Dewan Sri Pinang for all Penangites. 

(reflection by Father Fabian)