Fear + Hate = Power – But Hope Still Wins

Every time a Rotarian builds a well, mentors a student, vaccinates a child, or rebuilds a community, we quietly reclaim power from those who profit off outrage.

There’s a saying that “fear plus hate equals power.”

In today’s world, that formula drives much of what we see and feel. News outlets, politicians, and social media algorithms have discovered that outrage is the most dependable fuel for attention. Fear keeps us watching. Hate gives us a villain. And in a media economy where every click counts, adrenaline pays better than understanding.

But the irony is that the United States is objectively safer than it’s been in fifty years. Violent crime, terrorism, and protest-related deaths are a fraction of what they were during the 1960s and 70s. The chaos we feel is amplified, not necessarily lived.

This is where Rotary stands apart.

Rotarians don’t traffic in fear. We trade in hope.

We don’t seek power through division, but meaning through connection.

Our formula is different: Empathy plus Action equals Impact.

Every time a Rotarian builds a well, mentors a student, vaccinates a child, or rebuilds a community, we quietly reclaim power from those who profit off outrage. We prove that compassion can still be the loudest voice in the room.

In an age where fear sells, service still inspires.

That’s the quiet revolution of Rotary — and it’s never been more needed.