The Child of Fear and Grievance
by rebeccaMpells
The temperature of nationalism has been on the rise in Europe since the beginning of this century. This week it came roaring it’s way over the threshold of the UK parliament seating itself firmly in the chambers of power. The middle ground is being pulled to the outer edges of fear and grievance.
At best nationalism is an invitation for the unwelcome guest to return home; at worst the exorcism of an unwanted presence in our homeland. We struggle to let go of the way we have decided to tell our story, embellished by time and enmeshed with grievance it provides us with a sense of belonging. Nebulous and lacking definition it longs for incarnation and roams with intent, seeking the portal of increasing support through which it can transmute and manifest. At the same time we are not quite knowing or recognizing the form of our intention. We explore the streets of our political landscape looking for firm ground but finding only rough terrain which keeps us off balance and unsure.
Instead of choosing to let go of the foundational memory of those we were wronged by, a false sense of self enables a collective pain to thrive and breeds fresh fear of a contemporary but false enemy. We cease to be afraid of our neighbours when we cease to carry the collective fear and injustice of our past, choosing instead to make friends with those we previously challenged with a beckoning hand to our future. To let go is to enable ourselves – our nation – to see our place in the world more elementally and clearly. It is to unburden ourselves from carrying the past and lighten the load, sweeping away the black cloud of history which was passed down to us and – without such bravery – we will inevitably pass to our children.
Withdrawal from the front line of demand and grievance enables us to realign and find a fresh perspective, viewed through a contemporary wide angle lens rather than the myopic glass of selective and painful memory. It is only from here we will find solid ground from which to step forward in friendship and have our voice heard in a different, clear fresh and powerful way.
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You may also be interested in an earlier post A Sense of Un-Belonging.
You put this well, and it is disturbing to visualise the path ahead. Sadly viable more socially compassionate alternatives have been eroded over the years, leaving only powerless splinter groups.
As you say; greed and fear have become the weapons of those in power. Troubling times.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment Chris. We can only hope that the post election polarities of euphoria and dismay will settle and that wisdom on all sides will prevail.
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Indeed. I do find it a little concerning though when almost 10 percent of the electorate are supporting far right ideals. As you say, we can but hope that wisdom prevails.
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Profound writing and very true…I have some friends in the UK and understand a little of what you are facing…your struggle is our struggle here in the USA. I hope to God no Republican gets to be our next President…everyone of the potential candidates speak of “boots on the ground.” Heartbreaking! “Nationalism”–ugh! Our country has turned into an oligarchy and racism is rampant. The simple folk who are trying to make a living do not see the tyranny in armed forces. The young men and women join the military primarily because it is a job and offers training. It also offers death–to others and to them–somehow when they fill the application forms that is left out of the contract they sign. We are all ONE…what we do, how we live, how we act—all of this impacts the other in our global community. Greed and fear are very present here also…as well as in Canada…I spent some months there a year ago. I wonder where this will all end?
Refreshing to have found your blog…your words!
Blessings on you and your family!
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Indeed. This is why I think those first seemingly innocent steps of dis-identification with our neighbours – however innocently they are taken – can and often do – culminate in ugly and violent nationalism involving military action and worse. There is always a winner – the problem settles down for a while maybe years but it hasn’t really been resolved and the collective grievance and pain will fester until something sparks it into life again.
Thank you for your comment and happy you enjoyed my blog – although I’m not sure that’s quite the right word on this occasion !
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