"They Hate You and Your Values, and Now They're Tageting Kansas..." I casually opened my mail box today with this lovely political mail piece informing me that I am personally hated and inviting me to hate my percived political opponents.
When a mailer or TV ad or news outlet is inviting you to "hate" the best thing to do is to take a moment and recognize what's going on. The goal of the piece is to get you angry or scared enough to go vote or to keep watching. Recognize that fact and then realize that political disagreement does not necessarily involve hate. Political involvment often does, but it doesn't *have* to. Also, recognize when political activity devolves into hatred for the other side bad things tend to happen.
What can't you justify individually and as a group when you hate someone or another group? You do not have to look far into western civilization's history to see how awful the results of such rhetoric can be.
Arthur Brooks in his book, "Love Your Enemies" prescribes a solution. He says that when you find yourself hating the "other side" think of someone you've known with different political veiws than you that you love. For me its my Grandma. She was a life long democrat. (Which was somewhat confusing to me with a very conservative Dad.) She had a picture of Bobby Kennedy on the wall, hung up like he was a prized member of the family. It still makes me smile. But did she hate her (Many) Republican kids and grandkids? Of course not! She loved them fiercely . So when I see an aquaintence on social media or even a news pundit express a view which is opposed to mine, I think of Grandma and that photo of Bobby Kennedy and remind myself that they are a person, like any other, worthy of love and respect. This can be done even if you're being personally attacked. You can't control them, but you can control your own response. (I will note here that I have often failed at this ideal and I am sure many people can point to a time when I was ungratious or angry when discussing politics.)
I can already hear some objections arising: "So what? Are we not supposed to engage politically? This isn't realistic in the world in which we live!" I do believe that we should be informed and engaged politically. I think its part of being a responsible citizen to be informed and vote! It is a life long passion and calling for my wife. But I don't think any of that requires me to hate anyone.
Now, you may also object saying, "That's all fine and good, but the otherside REALLY is bad! They REALLY do hate us! And their policies REALLY are destorying the Country!!!"
To that I would say, particularly to the conservatives who are my friends, look at the way of Jesus. Who would he allow us to hate in the name of any political cause? Yes, even in the cause of life, we are not allowed to hate our opponents.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? . . " Matthew 5:43-46
It is a high and difficult calling to turn the other cheek when you are under attack! Only someone exceedingly strong could adhear to this principle fully. May God grant us strength.
And while this is extremely difficult, there is lots of evidence that such a stance, one of love and not hate, is actually more effective and better for you personally. Who has ever been convinced by someone screaming at them? There are many many studies on anger, blood pressure and heart disease. The old eastern proverb rings true, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal to throw at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."
Hate does not win. It can only temporarily expand the wrong kind of kingdoms.
We're supposed to be aiming at a better one. So be involved. Work diligently and passionately for what you believe in, but do not fall into the trap of hate.