World of Hate
I’m concerned with how much hate is in the world today.
Jerry Falwell died today and comments that I have heard or read have been very hateful. While I didn’t necessarily agree with some of his political views, I did not hate him. I don’t understand how a person’s political views can dictate how you interact or even think about them.
While this focuses on the bad stuff I’ve read, there are those who care about him and I acknowledge them. The thing that I wonder is about how we see people. How can people have such strong animosity towards a person based on their political views? I know that I’m guilty of this and I do need to work on this. I guess my question is where does compassion end? What is the breaking point for a person? What causes a person to hate any “religious extreme”?
I would love to read any other thoughts on this.
I responded to your post on my site.
I think fear is a precursor to hate. Or, hate is fear in disguise. Maybe that’s why we were told to “fear not”. It is hard for me to feel love when I feel afraid, and I am afraid of the extremists and the kind of world they would create if given free rein. I have no problem acknowledging that the Jerry Fallwells, Fred Phelps and Adolph Hitlers of the world are also children of God, and also have no problem leaving the final judgement up to Him. I know He knows everyone’s intent and innermost thoughts. You may be shocked that I would lump those 3 together, but I did so because in their own way they all preached hate–hate the Jews, hate the homosexuals, etc. If you can get enough people afraid enough of gays, then maybe some of them will beat some helpless fellow and leave him to die on a fence in the cold. (Maybe by being hated Fallwell is reaping what he sowed?) Weren’t we warned about that?) I do not believe that their messages follow the teachings of Jesus, so extremist “preachers” lose any semblance of respect from me. I don’t feel hate for Jerry Falwell, but I can’t say I’ll miss him. Besides, there are plenty more like him to take his place. Preaching hate, along with guilt, which leads to self-loathing (also hard to love others when you don’t love yourself or see yourself as a very much loved child of God), seems to be very popular and there are plenty of people willing to go along. Why is that? Well, I guess that’s another soapbox for another day. I do have to add that in my existentialist moments I have wondered if these people were placed here by God for a reason, for instance, to help us learn to love better. Like the Bible says, anyone can love people who love them, but the real challenge is to love the unlovable.
Boy, can I ever ramble?
It’s the hate he demonstrated in his own words that have inspired others. He couldn’t even leave Teletubbies alone