Quote:
Originally Posted by bns  First, I would say that a certain amount of ignorance is inevitable, but we can always improve. I was never racist, but I did have a strong dislike for homosexuals... until I had a class with a gay guy who was completely normal and an alright guy to hang out with. So ignorance can be fixed.
Second, I would say that ignorance CAN lead to fear and thence to hate, but it doesn't HAVE to. If we can just make the effort, we can get past this stuff. We all have a tendency to feel hostility against the unknown, but many of us are also able to overcome that and move on.
Here's hoping.  |
I'm not so sure hate is an entity in itself. At least not all the time, if at all. Pehaps hate is not even the proper word to use. The saying
'we kill what we fear' does not suggest hate at all, in my view.
Many moons ago, one night, when I was 16 years old, I and my girlfriend were walking on a sidewalk, not far behind us was a mentally handicapped person. The girl I was with, turning and seeing this person, grabbed my arm very tightly. I asked her what was wrong. She gestured behind us. I assured her there was nothing to be concerned of. Her response was very interesting. She said,
'those things are strong'.. I laughed and was suprised to hear this from a very bright person who didn't have a hateful bone in her body.
I try to make a habit of touching people. I do that because I believe human contact can overcome many phobias regarding people to people. It helps me break through when I am feeling afraid of a person for no good reason, and I have noticed it also relaxes the other person as well.
Hate, for me seems to be an adolescent feeling or emotion. Whether it is voiced or interpreted as such, doesn't matter to me.