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Letter to the Editor: Fear, the Tool Used by Republicans to Advance Their Political, Religious, and Cultural Agenda

letter to the editor

Letter to the Editor of the Defiance Crescent-News

Dear Editor,

What drives the Republican Party? What is the singular tool used by Republican politicians to raise money and drive voters to the polls? One word: fear. Spend time listening to Donald Trump, Fox News, ONN, and NewsMax, and you will quickly learn that fear is the fuel that drives the right-wing engine.

Fear the Mexicans. Fear the Blacks. Fear LGBTQ people. Fear the atheists. Fear the secularists. Fear the Democrats. Fear the socialists. Fear Black Lives Matter. Fear ANTIFA. Fear China. Every night, right-wing media serves up that day’s boogeyman that must be feared; that must be slain by voting for the “right” kind of people; right meaning white, libertarian, heterosexual Christian politicians.

Republicans are not stupid. They know that their days are numbered. The United States is becoming browner and less religious by the day. It won’t be long before Whites are a minority race. It won’t be long before the nonreligious outnumber the largest American sect, evangelicalism. There’s coming a day when the eighty million people who don’t vote — many of whom are younger adults with progressive values — realize that they can effect immediate change by voting; that they have the power to put an end to the rule of anti-democratic, misogynistic, racist, and bigoted politicians.

Until that day comes, we must continue to combat Republican fearmongering with facts, passionate protests, and political activism. Unlike Republicans, we must not turn to violence to advance our cause. This battle is one that will be won with words and votes. We must not give in to fear, even when it seems there is no hope in sight.

Ohioans will have an opportunity in November to put an end to the immoral Republican war on women’s reproductive rights. Right now, signatures are being gathered to put this issue on the ballot. If you care about reproductive rights, access to abortion, and birth control, please sign one of the petitions that are circulating in our area. Don’t leave it for someone else to do.

I realize the Ohio Democratic Party has largely been ineffective and out of touch with Ohio voters. On the local level, I know the Party is dominated by old people; people who are often out of touch with younger voters. As an aged Democrat, I know we must do better to attract and engage younger voters, many of whom have progressive ideals. If we don’t, Republicans win.

Bruce Gerencser
Ney, Ohio

Bruce Gerencser, 66, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 45 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

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3 Comments

  1. Avatar
    ObstacleChick

    Amen, well said. It’s probably not good for my blood pressure, but I start each day seeing what FOX “News” thinks Americans should be angry about and afraid of each day. It’s really disgusting how openly ignorant, hostile, and just plain inaccurate the Fox morning hosts are. But it keeps their base engaged and coming back for more.

  2. Avatar
    Benny S

    “Republicans are not stupid. They know that their days are numbered.”

    I agree, but I’ve been wondering lately about all these new “Red state” fear-based laws that are being enacted (banning drag shows, relaxing gun restrictions, banning books in libraries, restricting voter rights, etc.). I used to think it was stupidity increasingly running amok, but now I’m wondering if it’s more a strategy that prompts progressive-leaning voters to flee a Red state in favor of residing in a Blue state, therefore allowing a Red state to become EVEN MORE RED in order to maintain whatever power that remains.

  3. Avatar
    MJ Lisbeth

    Well said, Bruce.

    I am one of the people they want Americans to be afraid of. The thing is, I don’t even know how to do the things I, and people like me, are accused of doing (e.g., “grooming”).

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