Hate is such a strong word. It’s a word I have seldom used, or seldom heard being used, for most of my life. I’d probably only use it in the context of something I hate doing, like going to the dentist. But I can’t remember it ever being used about a person. My parents would never let us speak about hating anyone. We could dislike someone, but never hate. I had no reason to hate anyone. I still don’t.
So it is always an affront to my senses when I hear that I’m hateful, or that I use hate-speech, or that I hate certain groups of people, just because I believe that marriage is necessarily between a man and a woman, or that I believe a pregnant woman has a human being developing within her who has a right to protection.
In recent years the word hate has become so common. Abnormally common. And out of place, out of context, out of proportion. You hear enraged, screeching, violent people accusing calm, polite, joyful people of being haters. You hear a quiet, logical argument being shouted down as hate-speech without being heard or counter-argued. Anyone who believes simple truths like men and women are different and complementary, or that baby human beings are still human beings, is now a hater.
The only way I can make sense of this is when I see the behaviour of those who accuse the ‘haters’ of hating. Their anger and violence and desperation leads me to the conclusion that they are people who must know what hate is, who must feel the immense pain and burden of hatred, who must live it and taste it and know its ugly fruits. Maybe they’ve been hated by those who should have loved them. Maybe they hate themselves. They certainly hate those who disagree with them. Only someone who feels hatred themselves, would think to accuse someone else of hating when they simply disagree. For those of us who save hatred for the dentist chair, it’s a foreign concept.
Hatred is a losing battle, a downward spiral. But just because people may feel hatred towards me or my opinions or beliefs, doesn’t mean that I feel the same about them. I just wish they could realise that. I feel no hatred towards these people who accuse us of hating them. Only sadness for the tragedy they suffer, and a desire that they will one day come to know true love and joy.
Ed
Loving others
Posted by Alex Caughey on August 1, 2019, 4:20 pm, in reply to "Hate "
The Apostolic Church, Vancouver posted the following encouraging me to share:
Steve Jobs died a billionaire, with a fortune of $7 billion, at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer, and here are some of his last words... 👇👇👇
“In other eyes, my life is the essence of success, but aside from work, I have a little joy. And in the end, wealth is just a fact of life to which I am accustomed.”
“At this moment, lying on the bed, sick and remembering all my life, I realize that all my recognition and wealth that I have is meaningless in the face of imminent death. You can hire someone to drive a car for you, make money for you – but you can not rent someone to carry the disease for you. One can find material things, but there is one thing that can not be found when it is lost – “LIFE”. ❤️
Treat yourself well, and cherish others. As we get older we are smarter, and we slowly realize that the watch is worth $30 or $300 – both of which show the same time. Whether we carry a purse worth $30 or $300 – the amount of money in the wallets are the same. Whether we drive a car worth $150,000, or a car worth $30,000 – the road and distance are the same, we reach the same destination. If we drink a bottle worth $300 or wine worth $10 – the “stroller” will be the same. If the house we live in is 300 square meters, or 3000 square meters – the loneliness is the same.”
“Your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. 🌍 Whether you’re flying first class, or economy class – if the plane crashes, you crash with it.”
So, I hope you understand that when you have friends or someone to talk to – this is true happiness! ✅
💥 Five Undeniable Facts 💥
1️⃣ Do not educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. – So when they grow up they will know the value of things, not the price.
2️⃣ Eat your food as medicine, otherwise you will need to eat your medicine as food.
3️⃣ Whoever loves you will never leave you, even if he has 100 reasons to give up. He will always find one reason to hold on.
4️⃣ There is a big difference between being human and human being.
5️⃣ If you want to go fast – go alone! But if you want to go far – go together.
end
This also will pass
Posted by Alex Caughey on August 1, 2019, 5:44 pm, in reply to "Hate "
At 19 years of age in university in London, I was a Sunday afternoon cricket umpire with powers that I hesitated to use. I was trusted, and tried to be fair. One fine Sunday I made a decision that drew the response " I hate you." I shrugged my shoulders and ignored the abuse. David had a high opinion of his good looks, and appeal sufficiently to believe that he should be treated differently.
When a child my Welsh great grandfather encouraged me to grow a thick skin, teaching me that his years as a professional soldier had taught him that hard times, and enemy action (he served at Gallipoli with the South Wales Borderers) (1) had grown him into accepting that our adversities grow us out of our belief, that we know it all, therefore deserve better treatment.
Meanwhile ... Tim Costello chides 'fearful' Christians amid religious discrimination debate
Posted by Faz on August 2, 2019, 7:06 am, in reply to "Hate "
Some of the most prominent voices in religion in Australia are driven by fear, and Christians in particular have an unfounded anxiety about being persecuted, Baptist minister and social justice advocate Tim Costello has said.
"It worries me that some of the loudest voices in terms of faith seem to have the most fear," he told the ABC.
I guess it's a case of those who run no risk of persecution being free to denounce as "unfounded anxiety" the opinions of those who are likely to be at risk.
It depends on the clarity of one's vision
Posted by John on August 2, 2019, 8:33 am, in reply to "One way?"
I guess you are still pushing the line that Folau was guilty of hate speech, when it was nothing of the sort. Good advice being denounced as hate speech really is a one-way street.
I guess it's a case of those who run no risk of persecution being free to denounce as "unfounded anxiety" the opinions of those who are likely to be at risk.
QED.
You demonstrate Costello's argument with precision and brevity.
I guess you are still pushing the line that Folau was guilty of hate speech, when it was nothing of the sort.
I never pushed that line, John.
I have 'pushed the line' that Folau is free, and should be free, to say what he wants.
What he's not free to do is sign a lucrative deal that has clear conditions and, when he breaks those conditions, cry, 'Free Speech!'. He freely chose to sign the contract, then he clearly broke the conditions of his contract.
Good advice being denounced as hate speech really is a one-way street.
Good advice or not. He 'tested the waters' before he signed the new contract. He knew what was acceptable and what was not acceptable to his employers and chose to call their bluff. Now, after freely agreeing to those conditions then breaking them, he's seeking to re-frame the dispute as a bogus free speech contest.
And, to use your term, the 'mindless' are falling for it.