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Republicans hate Democrats. Christians hate Muslims. And Jews and non-Christians and gays. Muslims hate Americans. Americans hate Big Business, Big Oil, Big Brother, terrorists, taxes and traffic. Kids hate their parents and homework. Dogs hate cats. Cats hate mice. I could do this all day.
Hate is a very strong word; a : intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury b : extreme dislike or antipathy (from Merriam Webster). Personally, I hate mushrooms and spiders. I try to keep my hate simple and reserve it for items that can’t hate me back.
Hating something or someone is the ultimate judgment. You’ve decided that the object of your hate does not deserve your respect or tolerance. I can understand that. I do not tolerate spiders in my house one little bit! But why do I hate them? With the exception of the occasional bite (that really can’t be proven or disproven) they, as a species, have done nothing to me. I hate them because I have an irrational fear of them. I have no idea where this fear comes from nor do I care. All I know is they’re freaking scary and all must die!
My attitude sounds a lot like the current views of a lot of people, doesn’t it? For instance, the Muslim religion is being blamed en masse for the 9/11 attack in NYC. As we know, that attack was actually the fault of a small group of radical extremists that happened to be of the Muslim faith. Now we hate all Muslims due to the fear that one is representative of all. We are still intensely angry nine years later and very fearful that it will happen again. So we’ll drive out all the Muslims and be safe again. Is that rational?
There are also a lot of people who hate the gay community and believe that allowing their marriages to hold the same legal weight as those of straights will weaken that institution. Why do they hate gays? Because of their sexual disposition. And because God says it’s wrong. This is their only argument. But didn’t God also say “judge not lest ye be judged?” and “do onto others as you would have done onto you?” They seem to have a fear that somehow this lifestyle is catching, like a cold, and take personal affront as if they’ve been personally injured by these people. I’d wager that the majority of these haters don’t know any gays at all. Is this rational?
And last, but not least, Mexicans. I’m not going to bother making it pretty by saying illegal immigrants. We all know it’s Mexicans. Or at least people that look like Mexicans. I am against illegal immigration based solely on the fact that it IS illegal. But I understand what it is these people are looking for. The same American dream we were raised to believe was possible. Why are they hated so much? I think it’s because their skin is not white, they don’t speak English, and in most cases they are of low income. They come to our country and yet still have love for their Motherland. Wouldn’t any of we do the same if we became ex-patriots? I keep hearing that they do not pay taxes. I call bull@!$%# on that one. If they get a paycheck, they pay taxes. If they purchase products, they pay taxes. If they register a vehicle, they pay taxes. What personal damage have you suffered at their hands? Is your fear, anger or sense of injury rational?
Hate is rampant in today’s world, just like it has been pretty much since the dawn of time. I believe that the only way world peace will ever come to be is if mankind dies out. I think it’s a pipedream and downright impossible. But I will keep trying to do my part to make it happen. Because even though I do have hate in my heart I also have love and an overwhelming desire to be proven wrong.
