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The ugly truth about hate speech
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
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| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
The ugly truth about hate speech
It has been
a week for contemplating Matthew 12:34, where Jesus pointed out that, “Out of
the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” We continue to be witness to
speech and actions of intense hate, cruelty, and outright evil.
I like to
think that I am optimistic and frequently take note of good things and of how
many things are getting better. But, at this moment my heart is heavy and my
head is bowed.
This week, I
watched a recording of Representative John Sullivan from Oklahoma at a town
hall meeting. He implicitly threatened Democratic Senators: “You know, but
other than me going over there with a gun and holding it to their heads and
maybe killing a couple of them, I don’t think they’re going to listen unless
they get beat.” [He later apologized.]
Memories
from just over a year ago came flooding back. Democratic U.S. Representative
Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at point blank range by an
anti-government activist. Eighteen other people were also shot and six of them
died.
I was
reminded of how that year was thick with the coded language of “Second
Amendment remedies.” Sarah Palin’s PAC had published a political action “target
map” showing Giffords’ district in the crosshairs of a gun. Even the Pima
Arizona County Sheriff expressed concerns that the pervasive rhetoric of anger,
hatred, prejudice, and bigotry that he felt had contributed to Giffords’
shooting.
A brief
Internet search shows that there are at least six different versions of
“Liberal Hunting Permit” circulating – usually with no bag limit.
Don’t even
try to tell me that this is harmless rhetoric.
This is Real.
This is Immediate.
This is Persistent.
This is Personal.
This is Evil.
This is Immediate.
This is Persistent.
This is Personal.
This is Evil.
I lived in
southern Texas when James Byrd, Jr. was lynched not so very long ago. He was
tied with chains to the back of a pickup truck and dragged to death near
Jasper, Texas.
Fear and
hate in our hearts and hands are not yet gone from our nation.
Let us take
a stand for the fruitages of the spirit. May our hearts be open to abundant
love, joy, peace…
