“Bran thought about it. ‘Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?’
‘That is the only time a man can be brave,’ his father told him.”
― George R.R. Martin
Fear is healthy and at times it is necessary. We are often taught tho that it is something to be overcome. A few nights ago I posted my feelings about some of the reactions that I had then read about last week’s shootings in Paris. I felt that people were being way too critical about how others were reacting to the shootings. Tonight a friend of mine replied that she agreed but she also had a problem with people ‘fear-shaming’. She felt that there were those who weren’t being compassionate towards others who may be concerned about letting possibly dangerous refugees into their countries and communities. She was clear that she was neither a ‘truth’ who believed that the incidents didn’t happen (my feelings about that may be food for another posting one day soon) nor was she a new-ager who believed that people should never show fear.
I agree with her to an extent. People need to be able to feel whatever they feel without others telling them they are wrong. Fear is an honest response to terror. It is the response that ‘terrorists’ wish to evoke. However it would be a sad thing for fear to stop us from obeying the dictates of our hearts and our wills. Fear cannot stop us from helping those in need and doing what we can to help others. We cannot let fear make us lesser than we can be. If we let that happen than no matter what else happens, the terrorists will have achieved their goal. This is when bravery and facing our fear has to take precedent. We need to decide who we want to be, both as individuals and as a nation.
Blessings, G
Ready to Start by G A Rosenberg 
Owl Spirit Watching and Rising by G A Rosenberg 