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In a Strange Land
Behind Bars
By Larry J. Pitman

”He who fears something gives it power over him”
- Moorish Proverb

Our friend from Santiago was astonished. He saw me sliding into place the iron bars that cover our French doors at night, giving the light and airy rooms a prison-like aspect. He noted the alarm system with the electrical wires that went around the house. He saw the glass sticking up from the top of the walls. He heard the barking of our two dogs. "Is all that necessary?" he asked. He hadn't even seen the guards who are on the corner day and night and the little man who used to lean his chair up again our neighbor's door on Friday and Saturday nights. Nor did realize that we can never leave our house unattended, someone always has to be there.

I pondered his question because it is one I have often asked myself. Is all this necessary? Why do we do this?

Who is really living behind bars? Is it me or the crooks?

Well, the answer is me. And the reason is fear.

I told my friend that there are so many people in Lima who are afraid.

Many conversations include reference to this. We hear talk all the time from our friends that touches on this subject. Things are stolen; some are held up at gun point. Others are terrified of kidnapping. I have heard many, many stories of various acts of crime.

How many of these stories are true, and how many are based on rumors without factual foundation? I do not have any solid information one way or the other. I do not know what are the odds that someone like me will become a victim of crime. The important point is that fear dominates our thoughts so much of the time.

Therefore what I am thinking about most is the impact of fear on our lives. How much do we limit our lives because we are afraid. Perhaps we could all take a survey of our everyday lives and identify the times when we feel at risk.

How many will not go out at night to hear a wonderful concert because they are afraid? How many dart into the ATM machine, looking around everywhere, to make sure that no one is around when they come out? There are so many ways that our lives are altered by this concern.

Crime is a complex social problem. The politicians and the sociologists, I am sure, have many thoughts on the causes and cures of this societal illness. What concerns me is my response.

To me, the beginning of the answer is a change in attitude. As Dorothy Thompson has written: "Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live." It is time to let go of the fear. It is not time to pretend that there are no dangers in the world. That would be foolish. But, it is time to say to ourselves: "I am going to live my life, but not in fear. I will be careful, but not terrified because that makes my life not worthwhile. I will do all that is possible to make sure I and my family are safe and from that point on, I will let go and live my life as it should be."
Let us take the power away from the fear. Let us live our lives as they should be lived.

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