We Must Have Our Fears

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 23 November 1936, Page 10

We Must Have Our Fears

pretence that ••i\ib>ed man has l‘ shed entirely, or even subMantialfjy, the combative, predatory urges ami Jkioires of his original animal make-up tand would like to live upon a oiglier {plane which held no plarc for physical conflict and personal risk-taking does: Jio accord with our experience of civilised countries to-day, write- .1. ,\. llobteon. in “The Hibbert Journal,” LonWon. The notion that the general population desires either unbroken jpeace or complete security, and it misled into contrary courses of conduct by IJiropaganda of little groups of interestled warmakers, ambitious statesmen, professional fighters, or war-traders, does not accord with history or psychology.

The complete continuous absence of fear or care is not desired by individuals or nations. If “collective security” were achieved in its completeness, it would cease to be attractive. In order to appear attractive it needs to be set against some actual peril ihe fear of which gives a temporary appea] to the “security.’’ If there were no longer any sense of peril, the value of security would evtnnrate. Complete security would imply •'Tier an absolutely static life, without changes, without risk, and, therefore, without interest, or else a full knowledge of future changes which equally would rob that future of’all prior interests.