I have long held the notion that the level of timidity could roughly correspond to the temperature of one’s body.  I would hope that people who are timid by nature would keep theirs but like bacteria that spread colds and fevers, temperatures rise and we are sick.  I would liken timidity in the face of reality as a sickness. Have you noticed level of timidity was on the rise?  This has been noted by pundits who decry the use of fear to make normally strong willed people to think again and then fall silent when the fear-mongers do their work. What’s that? Speak up!

The Conservative Republican Morality coalition defeated the forces of progressive and enlightened Liberal Democracy some years ago. The handsome face of Ronald Reagan replaced the fearsome face of Barry Goldwater and there we went again – the timidity of the forces of good retreated as the forces of faith-based science defeated real science and, of course, Mr. Darwin. What’s that? Speak up!

Speaking up in public meetings takes a lot of courage.  Speaking your mind rather than what you think your bosses want to hear is a dangerous decision.  Being timid is as widespread as public hunger in the restaurants serving artery clogging fried foods.  There is a lot of it going around and those who raise their voices are shouted down – not by the thinkers - but by the herding instinct of the masses who do not want and fear – change. What’s that?  Speak a little louder.

I think the level of timidity is falling – at least slightly for a time while the anger is high against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I have noticed that people are less afraid to speak out against raising the level of warfare to go after Iran and North Korea – this, at the same time, as they fear acquiring atomic weapons of mass destruction by these two countries will upset the delicate balance existing in the world.  Democracy is something we are learning to be timid about while those who decry democracy – their voices are loud, raucous and threatening. Come on – speak!

Those who value our values of democracy, individual freedoms and rule of law rather than rule by force sharpened by fear - should have been taught in school that we have rights to speak up and be heard.  The forces of opposition have the will to shout us down but do not have the power to do so if we suppress our timid notions and let our real selves speak up and insist on being heard.

Is the level of timidity falling?  I think it is ever so slightly but the opposition to free expression is louder and more aggressive than ever before.  It is way past the time for the timid to speak up and demand rights and privileges that are slipping away.  I think you may have gotten the message.  Speak up!  It is your right!