“Cultures of domination rely on the cultivation of
fear as a way to ensure obedience. In its rhetoric such a society makes much of
love and little of the pervasiveness of fear. Yet we are all so terribly afraid
most of the time. Fear is the prevailing culture force that upholds structures
of domination. Fear promotes the desire
for separation, the desire not to be known. When we are taught that safety lies
with sameness, then difference will appear as a threat.” —
Author, academic, feminist and social activist bell hooks, “Love’s Alchemy,” in
Joyful Noise: The New Testament Revisited, edited by Rick Moody
and Darcey Steinke (1997)
The image of bell hooks accompanying this post was
taken Nov. 1, 2009, by Cmongirl.
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