The Pied Piper of Purgatory

Fear is the dragon that plagues society. It flies in from seemingly nowhere, breathing fire, threatening to burn us alive, long nails ready to rip us apart if that fails and, at the very least, stands among us with foul breath, scaly skin and terrifying eyes.

It is the not knowing, the ignorance, the randomness of it, that makes it so terrifying.

In the past we were given role models that said, "Breathe. Think. Do not panic. We will deal with this in a reasonable, rational way." Some people still panicked, but they were surrounded by others who could cope and that made society work.

Dragons still existed, but there was a sense that we were dealing with them as best we could and might some day neuter them, or find a way to tame them.

Now our leader runs around holding onto his toupee so it won't blow away and swings golf clubs at every gnat that whisks into his eyesight. He screams invectives like a truant school boy, bullies his own entourage and sets an example of brutal chaos where anyone could be the next victim.

Many who live in the shadow of the unknown take their fear and hide; or gorge on hate and cast stones at every scapegoat they can find. As long as it is not them, it could be the enemy.

And the Pied Piper of Purgatory leads a nation of ignorant followers straight into the inferno.