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.