Fear itself

A glance at the headlines, a ride on the subway or a chat with a neighbor is enough to reveal the climate of anxiety that is increasingly permeating public and private life in our country. A mix of real threats, like gun violence, and fake ones, like the targets of prominent xenophobes, could erode our society’s traditions of openness.

We seem to be at a crossroads where we can either succumb to our fears or resist the terror. While one can feel powerless in the face of deadly mass shootings and any number of threats around the globe, there is a variety of steps we can take in our daily lives to rededicate ourselves to America’s democratic and humanistic values.

Charity begins at home, and here in the northwest Bronx we can make an extra effort to regard strangers not with suspicion, but kindness. Now is a good time to branch out of our usual gathering places. If you frequent The Riverdale Y, why not explore what the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center has to offer? If you practice one faith, consider participating in activities at another group’s facilities. Maybe try shopping in a new part of town. 

The area’s building boom means we are going to be getting hundreds of new neighbors over the coming years, and even if we are skeptical of all the construction, we should be welcoming toward new Bronxites.

Further, local politicians should follow Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s lead and welcome refugees fleeing violence overseas. It has been inspiring to see ordinary people in Canada and Germany greet and support people fleeing violence from war-torn countries including Syria. We could do the same thing in the melting pot that is the northwest Bronx. Our elected officials can set a shining example for the country by finding places where refugees can take shelter and taking steps to welcome them.