Hatred

To hate is to dispel evil into the world, to take your fear or your anger and make it into a physical action. Hate creates negative energy. It creates violence, prejudice, stereotypes, verbal slurs. It creates embarrassment, shame, a sense of deserving this abuse.

I recently heard a story of a racial slur directed at a young boy. The ethnicity of the boy doesn't matter. The situation surrounding the comment also doesn't matter. The fact that it took place in front of the boy's grandmother, siblings and cousins does matter. Should this boy feel shame, embarrassment or justification for what was spoken to him? For the fact that some ignorant, angry, insensitive person decided to give hatred a voice?

This took place in the great United States of America. One would imagine that some level of progress has been made considering how modern the country is. It saddens me to think of how this hatred was fostered. I don't believe that anyone is born with hatred in their hearts. I do however think it is a learned behavior, especially when it is directed towards one ethnicity or every ethnicity but one's own.

I was recently in an orientation for graduate school, beginning my master's in social work. One session was about acknowledging, appreciating and dealing with cultural differences. Before you can look outward it is essential that you look inward. If you do not assess your own perspective and biases then it will be near impossible for you to understand what you are projecting onto others. The facilitators had us complete an exercise that went something like this:
Take out a piece of paper. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Complete the sentence "White is…" and just free verse. At the end of five minutes, set the timer for 2 minutes and again complete "White is…". Top it off with one final session of thirty seconds with "White is…". After completing this exercise we discussed our responses. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Many had never appreciated, and therefore could not acknowledge, the privilege handed to them simply because they were born Caucasian. They won the birth lottery by being born white and American and yet they couldn't even see how ethnicity made a difference.

I am currently living in a society that was recently torn apart by hatred. Even in societies where color doesn't make the difference some historical, tribal division will be found and exploited. Foster some hatred add in a healthy dose of brainwashing and you are well on your way to a horrendous genocide. Is sixteen years enough to dispel that hatred?

Going back to the US, I selfishly think of my own future. What if I decide to adopt a baby who is a different ethnicity than me, most definitely one that doesn't automatically enjoy the perks of society that I do? Will I have to avoid living in certain cities or states because of the discrimination we will feel as a family? What lengths will I have to go to to keep my family safe and secure? Why am I even forced to consider all these asinine questions?!

My initial response to hearing the story of the young boy combating prejudice and hatred is to lash out with some sort of violence. Let's be honest, it feels good to have a physical response to something that hurts your heart. Of course this is the wrong reaction, perpetuating only more sadness and negativity. The best I can do is go on a rant on my blog and scream in all caps - STOP THE IGNORANCE! Take a moment, see the person underneath the label and relate to them on a 'human being to human being' level. Stop fearing the unknown.