Let's suspend our pre-packaged, preconceived notions if we can
and think about this sensibly. Hate is not an objective "thing" nor
is it "out there" It's
not a concrete "something" like a dangerous
dog or a land-mine. It is an emotion,involuntary, a reaction to
outside stimulus. It is not self generated within ones own skull.
Neither it bad or wrong per se. It is an evolutionary survival
mechanism like love and the one cannot exist without the other.
Hate is a good and positive attitude if the focus of ones hatred
is truly deserving, e.g. something that threatens your life or way
of life. Some things need to be and should be hated if one is to
survive and prosper.
When you accuse someone of hate/hatered/hating or being
hateful, what you are actually doing is recognising that they are
reacting to an outside stimulus that involuntarily produces the
emotion of hate within themselves. You are also expressing your
hate and hatred for whatever it is that they have said or done.
Today "hate" has been politicized, it is now a main issue on the
political agenda. It has now been redefined to mean unacceptable
speach and behaviour and not to be tolerated. It is, along with
other key key-word concepts used as a big stick to stifle all
debate and dissent, to beat everybody into submissive silence.
"He who defines, controls".

Enjoyed your views Hengist,
interesting observations,and an
interesting name!

Cheers for now,

Awali

Thanks.
My intent was to stimulate thought and debate.
I am glad that you took the message.

Free speech works both ways. People have the right to spew hate and others have the right to call it hate.

But hate crimes are criminal.

See [www.culteducation.com]

Quote
rrmoderator
Free speech works both ways. People have the right to spew hate and others have the right to call it hate.

But hate crimes are criminal.

See [www.culteducation.com]

Rick, what do you think of the spate of antisemitic attacks all over Europe, especially in France? In Germany awhile back Rabbi Tuvia Teldon's (we actually went to high school together) son was mugged?
Do you think Israel should start making plans to absorb Jews into the country as a place of refuge? What do you think of the problems in Israel and in the States all motivated by hatred against Jews?

The most recent cycle of anti-Jewish violence and unrest in Europe will likely pass.

I like to think that Europeans in particular have learned from the Holocaust and certainly the majority oppose such actions.

Israel is of course always there as a last option for safety to any Jew under the law of return.

Quote
rrmoderator
The most recent cycle of anti-Jewish violence and unrest in Europe will likely pass.

I like to think that Europeans in particular have learned from the Holocaust and certainly the majority oppose such actions.

Israel is of course always there as a last option for safety to any Jew under the law of return.

I think that Europe is phasing out the Jews. The assimilation rate is very high - 80% in France. I hope you're right about the recent spate of violence.
I've been receiving mail from the Holocaust Museum, World Jewish Congress, Simon Wiesenthal Center etc.. They seem to be very concerned about all of this. They claim it's getting worse.
Based on what I saw in Israel my last several trips, I think Israel would need drastic changes to become a place of refuge for Europeans and Americans.
I experienced a lot of antisemitism growing up on LI, NY. I always failed to understand why my father didn't go to the ADL.

Quote
rrmoderator
Free speech works both ways. People have the right to spew hate and others have the right to call it hate.

But hate crimes are criminal.

See [www.culteducation.com]

Crime is criminal. Hate crimes are thought crimes. If I bust you in the head, that's a crime. If I bust you in the head because you are a Jew, are you more "busted in the head"? If a guy rides by and yells a racial slur at you, how is that different from a guy who rides by and the same racial slur is playing on his radio?

Oddly, minorities account for more hate crimes on a per capita basis. Isn't it ironic that liberals complained for decades about Christians trying to control people's thoughts and behavior and now THEY are trying to do it?

Among other things, any religion (or group of people) that says they are superior to others are actually promoting hatred.

All humans should be respected, regardless of race or creed.

There is difference between a person or group of people who think they are superior and a belief in ones religion as superior.
If ones religion says ''love thy neighbor'' and the practioner finds that to be a superior ideology....so what?