Reply #32: I would contend that the hate is sometimes justified [View All]

[Stuckinthebush]

But of course, we could get into a spiritual discussion about the evils of hate.

Nevertheless, the hate you do see here is hate for actions that do damage to the powerless. People hate Bush and his policies because of his disregard for human life as evidenced in Iraq, for his disregard for civil liberties, for his disregard for programs aimed at the disadvantaged children and adults, and for his blatant disregard for the health and fiscal well being of our nation. These actions do result in intense dislike and even hate from the youngest to the oldest. But in a way, that hate is justified because it is directed at a man that has ultimate power given to him to do whatever the hell he wants, and what he wants hurts many people.

The other hate you see here is hate toward overt racism, sexism, and homophobia. You have many, many critical theorists here who have spent their lives critically analyzing the world in which we live, and who deeply understand the social forces at play that make some citizens more important than others. The hate you see toward the "isms" is also justified because those "isms" tear down and destroy otherwise good, hard working individuals. Those "isms" are usually displayed by individuals who have been given social power either through their race, gender, class, and/or sexuality. The hate is directed at these individuals who refuse to acknowledge their social position, and who continue to marginalize segments of our society for no other reason than the color of their skin, their lack of certain genitalia, their lack of money, or their preference for same sex partners. If evil has a face, it can be seen in those who overtly display these prejudices. The Republican Party has traditionally stood for these objects of our disgust and hate, and so also becomes a target for our disgust and hate.

Contrast that with many over at conservative boards like the Free Republic. While I will not lump all conservatives in a bag together, the individuals at that particular location are full of hate as well. Their hate, however, is reserved for different people or causes. Their hate is directed at those who are not white, upper-middle/upper class, and heterosexual. In many instances, you also see a disregard and even hatred of women and women's issues by these individuals. I have also seen numerous instances of hatred for any religion that is not Christianity. This type of hate is a hatred of difference - a hatred of those that would seek to change the status quo. Traditionally, the Democratic Party has stood for the objects of their hate, so of course, the Democrats are then also objects of hate.

While I would agree with you that hate is poison, let us not be naive - hate is part of humanity. In our instance, I would say that hate can be cathartic because it allows those here to express their anger and sense of powerlessness over a callous, indifferent administration that represents all that we despise. Our expressions of hate are releases of frustration that our beautiful country is being ruined by ignorant rich men.

So, yes...there is hate. This can be seen as a sign of the decline of our society, or it can be seen as a sign of the intense emotions of our time. Some here and at FR see the hate as a game. They will cross over enemy lines to infiltrate the boards in order to play childish games with those that hate their beliefs. In the end, this does no good because we aren't in dialog with one another. The hate will build and fester. But frankly, I don't see much hope of reconciliation at this time, anyway. There are too many actions on the neo-con side that continue to destroy all that we hold dear. Similarly, the FR folks see a continued assault on their beliefs and have no desire to come to a middle ground. So it continues. But, in the end, I must say that I feel that my disgust and hatred of the policies of this administration are morally justified due to the pain and suffering caused by those same policies.