Overcoming the Power of Fear Spun From the Democrats’ ‘Cancel Culture’

Written by Robert Knight

One of the greatest barriers to living a life of liberty is fear.

It comes in many forms: Fear of offending others, fear of failing, fear of terrors, real and imagined, and fear of death. The media have become experts in stoking fears of every kind.

Fear of getting involved is another form. Bystanders did nothing this past week while a woman was molested and then raped in a Philadelphia subway car. Instead of calling 911, some spectators reportedly used their cellphones to tape the crime.

On March 13, 1964, the entire country was shocked by the murder of Catherine “Kitty” Genovese, 28, a Queens, New York bartender who was repeatedly attacked by a knife-wielding thug and finally died on the street. The New York Times reported that 38 witnesses ignored her repeated screams, fearing to get involved. Later reports confirmed that only a few witnesses saw it and turned away and that a couple of people finally did call the police. But nobody went to her aid before she was killed.

Ten years later, another woman, Sandra Zahler, 25, was beaten to death in an apartment overlooking the area where Ms. Genovese was killed. Some neighbors heard her screaming at length but did nothing.

The two murders epitomize a psychological phenomenon known as the “bystander effect” or “Genovese syndrome.” The theory is that people are less likely to get involved when other people are present. It might be summed up this way: “Somebody (not me) do something.”

America’s current ruling elites intend to hammer home the idea that only the government and experts know what is best and that if we know what’s good for us, we won’t take the initiative ourselves.

A steady move away from personal responsibility to group culpability is apparent in everything from the burgeoning welfare state to the COVID-19 masking and vax mandates. And even reactions to street crime.

The two murders epitomize a psychological phenomenon known as the “bystander effect” or “Genovese syndrome.” The theory is that people are less likely to get involved when other people are present. It might be summed up this way: “Somebody (not me) do something.”

America’s current ruling elites intend to hammer home the idea that only the government and experts know what is best and that if we know what’s good for us, we won’t take the initiative ourselves.

A steady move away from personal responsibility to group culpability is apparent in everything from the burgeoning welfare state to the COVID-19 masking and vax mandates. And even reactions to street crime.

The two murders epitomize a psychological phenomenon known as the “bystander effect” or “Genovese syndrome.” The theory is that people are less likely to get involved when other people are present. It might be summed up this way: “Somebody (not me) do something.”

America’s current ruling elites intend to hammer home the idea that only the government and experts know what is best and that if we know what’s good for us, we won’t take the initiative ourselves.

A steady move away from personal responsibility to group culpability is apparent in everything from the burgeoning welfare state to the COVID-19 masking and vax mandates. And even reactions to street crime.

The one area in which they are supposed to be mature enough to “think for themselves” is sexuality, beginning in elementary school. Even there, they are coerced into ignoring biology and embracing the latest manifestation of sexual anarchy.

The antidote to fears real and imagined is courage. John Wayne famously said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”

Better yet, a wise man once said, “If you fear God, you needn’t kneel to any man.”

As Paul wrote in II Corinthians 3:17, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Speaking for God, the great prophet Isaiah wrote, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you.”

Psalm 2, written by David, imparts this: “be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling…. blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

Predicting His own death and resurrection, Jesus told his followers, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

That’s something to think about when worldly miscreants stoke fear and division to increase their power.

Who do they think they are?

Robert Knight is a former Los Angeles Times news editor and writer and was a Media Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. This column was originally published by The Washington Times.

He has been published by the Wall Street Journal, National Review, the Christian Post, AmericanThinker.com, DailyCaller.com, Townhall.com, OneNewsNow.com and many others.  He has co-authored three books and written 10, including “Liberty on the Brink: How the Left Plans to Steal Your Vote” (D. James Kennedy Ministries, 2020) and “The Coming Communist Wave: What Happens If the Left Captures All Three Branches of Government” (D. James Kennedy Ministries, 2020) . 

You can follow him on Twitter at @RobertKnight17, and his website is roberthknight.com.