Examing the Warrior and the Nature of Hatred

[ceebeegee]

I can't fathom the kind of hate that would compel someone to come to long Island all the way from Kansas, to hold up signs that says "God Hates Fags." And to bring your kids? These little ones given to your trust, and you teach them to hate? They're holding up signs and spouting unspeakable things, instead of playing with their toys and sleeping in a warm bed? I don't understand any of this.

I'm always torn when it comes to people like this. My first instinct is to ignore them, but then there's the idea of "for evil to triumph, the only requirement is for good people to do nothing." Is it strategic or just cowardly (or lazy) to ignore something like this? Are the F--- P-----es of the world looking for attention, or is there another agenda? So then my reaction is to yell back, because what they say and represent gets me so viscerally. But realistically I know that wouldn't accomplish anything--you'd have two people yelling instead of one. But I don't think I'm evolved enough to return love for hate. I know I should but that's really hard. I have a very difficult time with the whole "turn of the other cheek" of the Christian philosophy. I am a warrior. Maybe the struggle against hatred requires teachers and people who love, and not warriors. Maybe I should beat my sword back into a plowshare.

Comments

Retain the sword

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

But remember Voltaire: "I disagree with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it."

Yes, they were an ugly and disgraceful bunch, and rather bold and stupid as well. But as long as they were only expressing a misguided opinion, they had the Constitution behind them.

Besides, it looks like the locals staged a pretty solid counter-demonstration. If the children have any sense, they might well question why their parents' opinion meets with such strong disagreement.

[mysticblaze.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, those children have already been brainwashed to hate. They will not understand why they hate, but they will continue to propagate those sentiments. The only way for them to learn differently is for society to take a more active role in quashing the misinformation and giving the children the opportunity to question what they have been taught. The questioning will require a strong will on their part as well, and may need to wait until they are older, and have a better grasp of what is going on around them.

The adults, on the other hand, are fair game and should be mindful of the consequences of their actions. Do you think that they would be able to stay in that town or nearby without having to deal with hatred directed at them for their stupidity? Doubtful that they were able to leave town and the state immediately after they finished protesting

[planga.livejournal.com]

The article doesn't say (or I missed it), but this is most likely the Westboro Baptist Church. I found their website some years ago (cleverly located at godhatesfags.com, or .org, I really don't care to look it up now).

The site is so single-minded, so adament, that it simply has to be a parody of over-zealous religious groups, and a damned good one at that.

Unfortunately, I later found out that it is totally real (unfortunate that it is real; very fortunate that I found out). I used to be able to tolerate such bigots - my think was "they'll be dead soon, and future generations will live in harmony." I wish I didn't live in such a fantasy world. As long as the minds of children are ruined with such ideas, there will be hatred.

I suppose perhaps one could argue that as long as there are human beings still around, there will be hatred. But can I please hold on to the one little shred of my fantasy that remains?

-Chris "ah screw it, it's gone" Combs