Fear is the first feeling the family teaches their child, followed by the sense of inferiority!
Fear…
This terrible word that imprisoned the hearts and minds of kids.
Fear of legendary monsters, of being locked up in the dark, of failure in school, of breaking a cup, of committing errors, and the fear of torment in the afterlife
When a child grows up, fear grows …
Fear of his feelings, of his body, of speaking out his opinions, of a dream against his family’s desire, of noticing one of his changes, fear of difference, fear of opposition, fear of harsh social control
It is fear… the world of fear in which Egyptians are born under the terror of their family and society!
As if man did not have enough of inner fear … Fear of poverty, disease, loneliness, failure, growing old… To hinder his growth with other spirals of fear!
Then comes the second lesson in the child’s life … To always feel you are less than others! Or what else would be for the neighbor’s son to always be first in class while you are in the second? Because you are a failure! Or why is the neighbor’s daughter prettier, with light skin that seems she doesn’t belong here, while our daughter is ugly with her dark skin?
Then this infection spreads to reach school, where we find teachers distinguishing between students, favoring some above others!
That’s how the child grows amidst a suffocating atmosphere, filled with fear and racism, where survival is guaranteed only for the strongest or the most beautiful, with no sense of justice or respect for individual differences …
The child grows to become a trembling man or woman, afraid to take a step against the tide, scared to think of reversing the trend, terrified to be placed in the decision-making spot, lest he might show weakness!
Thus, the glow of the mind and the warm feelings fade, his personality dims and senses become numb, and the weak being gradually turns into … a terrorist!!
But Why? Why should only his life be spoiled? Everyone must taste fear! Everyone must pay the price!
Like a speeding bike, rushing towards an old man, avoids hitting him in the last moment, as its rider laughs sarcastically …
A poisoned hand extends to another body, intimidating, and tampering with its security
A loud, harsh voice screaming in the face of a child
The weakling, cowardly child … becomes an adult terrorist!
And the religious people had turned into terrorist people!
All this happened because we do not educate children to use their minds and that have a right to be different, rather we educate them to submit to the strongest and self-humiliating for pleasing others…
We have to reconsider our crimes and terrorism against ourselves and our society. We know that only slaves live in fear, but those who are truly free, live by their own choices, experiences, trial and error without censorship and without fear.
Therefore, the day we can free ourselves from fear and feeling inferior is a day when we become free …
Rania Refaat