Hate Fed by Fear

Hate comes in ever so many shades and forms.  Writer Andrew Sullivan summed up the matter nicely:  "There is hate that fears, and hate that merely feels contempt; there is hate that expresses power, and hate that come from powerlessness; there is revenge, and there is hate that comes from envy . . . .There is the oppressor's hate, and the victim's hate. There is hate that burns slowly, and hate that fades. And there is hate that explodes, and hate that never catches fire."

Without doubt, some of the principal factors generating hateful conflict in our times are social and economic. Strong prejudices and outbursts of hate are often to be found in those areas where the group occupying the more economically favored position is in the minority. Also, hate often exists where the standard of living of a section of the community is threatened by an influx of foreigners.

Some may feel that these newcomers will compete for jobs, working at lower wages, or will cause  the value of property to decrease. Whether such fears are justified or not is another matter. fear of economic loss and fear that the standards of the community or of life-style will suffer are powerful factors inducing prejudice and hate.

What should be the first step toward the eradication of hate?  A change of attitudes. 

Next time: "What Would Jesus Have Done?"

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000