Heralders of Hate
I just watched a Twilight Zone episode titled "He's Alive", in which a young man (Peter) who makes hate speeches against minorities is taught by a man experienced in this field, later revealed as Adolf Hitler. Hitler instructs the man to grow his audience by killing off dissenters and uniting around common issues like nationalism. At the end, Peter is killed by the police and Rod Serling asks the question "Where will he (Hitler) turn next?" Serling's message was that hate mongers like Hitler are kept alive by our hatred of others. As a result of discrimination, greed and irrational fears, the door is opened for evil to walk in. Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, when asked if the US sanctions against Iraq, which killed an estimated 500,000 children, was worth it replied yes.
Text of 60 Minutes Interview (5/12/96)
Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq:
We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's
more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth
it?
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it.
Albright was largely criticized in the Arab press, "but a Dow Jones search of mainstream news sources since September 11
turns up only one reference to the quote--in an op-ed in the Orange Country Register (9/16/01)."-http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/we-think-the-price-is-worth-it/
There are countless examples, although perhaps not quite as obvious, of this form of hatred today. The mainstream media, through it's complacency, allows evil, and those who spew it, to survive and grow. When Donald Trump was asked his regards about NSA leaker, Edward Snowden, he replied
"I think he's a terrible traitor, and you know what we used to do in the good old days when we were a strong country? You know what we used to do to traitors, right?" Trump asked the hosts of "Fox and Friends" during a call-in interview. Fox host Eric Bolling answered the question for Trump. "Well, we used to kill them, Donald," he said.
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/donald-trump-edward-snowden-execution_n_3530162.html
We see the blind loyalty to terms such as "strong country", and the atrocities carried out in the name of patriotism are largely ignored. The constant demand for war, weapons and resources leads to the predictable course of destruction. Our interconnectedness with the people and nations we exploit becomes lost. Humility allows us to help those in need, regardless of background, nationality or anything else. This needs to be the key to open us to compassion and acceptance, which wither from short-sighted hatred and greed.
When I went to a candlelight vigil in protest of military action with Syria, I found a diverse group of about 20 people. We sang anti-war songs and stated why we went. An elderly woman (late 70s-80s) organized the vigil and opposed our rush to militarism without provocation. I believe efforts like these across the nation were largely responsible for our backing-down from military action. To be able to unite over a common cause, despite differences holds inherent strength which hatred can never match.
"I think he's a terrible traitor, and you know what we used to do in the good old days when we were a strong country? You know what we used to do to traitors, right?" Trump asked the hosts of "Fox and Friends" during a call-in interview. Fox host Eric Bolling answered the question for Trump. "Well, we used to kill them, Donald," he said.
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/01/donald-trump-edward-snowden-execution_n_3530162.html
We see the blind loyalty to terms such as "strong country", and the atrocities carried out in the name of patriotism are largely ignored. The constant demand for war, weapons and resources leads to the predictable course of destruction. Our interconnectedness with the people and nations we exploit becomes lost. Humility allows us to help those in need, regardless of background, nationality or anything else. This needs to be the key to open us to compassion and acceptance, which wither from short-sighted hatred and greed.
When I went to a candlelight vigil in protest of military action with Syria, I found a diverse group of about 20 people. We sang anti-war songs and stated why we went. An elderly woman (late 70s-80s) organized the vigil and opposed our rush to militarism without provocation. I believe efforts like these across the nation were largely responsible for our backing-down from military action. To be able to unite over a common cause, despite differences holds inherent strength which hatred can never match.
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