Active Minds - The Phantom Menace Lyrics

When I was growing up we were taught to fear the unknown
That half the world had values very different from our own
The West feared the East, and always assumed the worst
Whatever we believed they must think the reverse
Across the divide, a similar story unfurled
That of millions of people intent on destroying the world

Now much of the Iron Curtain has been pulled aside
We can speak to the people that our rulers had wanted to hide
And we see that the difference was never so great
We have similar dreams and can simply relate
A menace which always seemed to hang in the air
Turned out to be a phantom - it was never really there

But now once again we are afraid
And some find political capital to be made
By turning that fear into anger and hate
Against innocent people with enough on their plate
But a handful of fanatics do not represent
The mass of the people and their sentiments
We all need to learn tolerance and respect
It's what we should give and, in turn, expect

Why can't we see that most people seek the same thing
A peaceful life and the security that it will bring?
To live a life not dominated by fear
To have comfort, and laughter, and our loved ones near
There is more that unites us than that holds us apart
If we realise this it will be a start