Opposing the Disciples of Hate

We think of hate as coming in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Racism, misogyny, homophobia, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and on and on.  It is not. It is a single immutable thing. As most parents have told their children - "hate is a very strong word." Hate is a strong word because the thing it represents is very powerful. Hate is not dispute, dislike, or disagreement. It leaves no room or moderation or debate.

Once hate is present it is not selective. Like liquids, it seeks to be on an equal level with other hate and like a virus it seeks new hosts to infect in persuit of its mission. No group is completely innocent. No group is completely immune. Labelling hate for any one group, cause or idea is to diminish its destructive influence on everything around  it. Hate needs to be rejected,  universally  and unilaterally. We can certainly manage without it, or if need be, work around it.

But not everyone believes that. There are people who believe freedom of speech requires that they spew hate, simply because they can. regardless of impact. Like eating constantly because you can chew non-stop, the results can be alarming, dangerous and unhealthy.

Devotion to the First Amendment is devotion to speaking out against injustice, that is its original intent. Anyone claiming that the First Amendment is meant to mandate hate speech,  is more a disciple of hate than a believer in the Constitution.

Just as hate against any group needs to confronted and rejected, so too must the disciples of hate be opposed - because the First Amendment says we can.

Post Election America - Are We Ready?

It doesn't matter who wins the election.  Not the White House,  Congress or Senate.  What matters is; can we heal the the mess we made in the process of this election?

Will we be here, as a country,  ten years from now, able to look back on what we learned?

I have concerns, I have doubts.

The schisms in our society, which existed before the election have only become more pronounced and ugly. Everyone shares some blame in this. Right, left, Democrat, Republican and everyone else on the X,Y, and Z vectors of our political spectrum has something to answer for. Maybe the democrats are not as progressive as they should be or the republicans are perhaps not as smart as they claim; the right wing flirting with extremism and the far left uncompromisingly anti most-things.

The vast majority of Americans agree that something needs to change, except we cannot agree on what that something is.

Maybe we should start with the election process itself. As a diverse country,  representational government would seem appropriate.  The process should be standardized. Game shows are better managed!

Even if we didn't start this mess, we are going to be the ones left to clean it up. The winner of the election will certainly not take the blame  and the loser will not stick around to help undo the damage either.

The key is the one thing missing from this election cycle specifically and from government, in general for years - constructive debate, civilized disagreement or good old fashion, hashing it out. That is how our Constitution was crafted, that is how our government and society is supposed to work. That all starts with respect, which many of our politicians and their followers have abandoned.  Respect for the process of government,  respect for the objectives of government,  respect for truth and knowkedge, respect for each other.

If our leaders can't or won't, it is up to us.

We, the people,  are on our own, again.