KnowThyNeighbor.org

Can Hate Be Healed?

This is a very intriguing question and also the title of a well-written and insightful editorial in this Sunday's Boston Globe, co-authored by Jack Levin, Director of the Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict and Arnold Arluke, Professor of Sociology at Northeastern University.   

To quote Levin and Arluke, though we have been saying this at KnowThyNeighbor all along, " Most hate is cultural.  Normal people learn to hate from an early age from parents, teachers, friends, co-workers and the media.  They might never translate their bigotry into behavior beyond using stereotypical epithets and telling bigoted jokes.  But some hate is pathological.  It becomes so severe that it takes control of a person's life, causing him to become isolated, fearful, self-destructive, and dangerous to others.  Haq and Robida seem to have suffered from pathological hate."

The concept of hate, its surge and increase in modern society and the lack of personal ownership of the hate in our own actions is an interesting and important topic of dialogue.  This "must read" editorial sheds light on the medical and psychological components of prejudice and makes us aware that "pathological hate" and "racial paranoia" are now offical psychiatric diagnoses and potentially treatable with antipsychotic medication and other forms of therapy.  My question is, "How prevalent in our American culture are these 'illnesses?'" 

"Their stereotyped views of blacks, Muslims, Jews, or gays would be viewed as delusional, entirely lacking in any reality, rather than as a normal case of prejudiced thinking."  Take a stroll to the anti-gay websites of MassResistance, VoteOnMarriage, or the Massachusetts Family Institute and do your own layperson's diagnosis of these groups and their Directors/Spokespeople.  Notice I left out Reverend Fred Phelps and the Westborough Baptist Church known for his "God Hates Fags" protests ?  As long as Phelps is getting press, the others can maintain a perceived level of acceptance in society. 

If "hate" is now considered a treatable mental illness much like alcoholism, I guess that would make Reverend Phelps the out of control drunk with multiple DUI's and Brian Camenker, Kris Mineau, Roberto Miranda, Rob Willington et al, just "Social Drinkers..."

Tom Lang, Director

What Defines a BIGOT ?

Just Talking the Talk

In the last few days our "illustrious" Governor Mitt Romney made a racist bumble by referring to the Big Dig as a "Tar Baby."  And Mel Gibson, when pulled over by police for drunk driving ranted to officers some majorly anti-semitic remarks.

Interestingly enough, Gibson who said, "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" when he was given his failed sobriety test, apologized profusely today to the Jewish community worldwide.  I heard a representative from the Anti-Defamation League on NPR say that even if Gibson was drunk, his actions and remarks could not be forgotten.  And I hope they won't be.

Romney took another approach, claiming to not know that the term "Tar Baby" was a derogatory term used against African-Americans, only referring to its other definition as a "sticky situation to be avoided at all times."  In Tuesday's Boston Herald, Virginia Buckingham, takes Romney's side and defends him by quoting past stories in the Boston Globe which also had used the term "Tar Baby."  Buckingham asks the question whether we should not use the term, "Tar and feather" either.  Are you kidding Buckingham ?  Yes, Virginia, There is a Bigot.  And unfortunately, not just one.

I don't know what is worse, the fact that Romney used the term or the fact that he as a Governor, ex-head of the Olympics, and potential Presidential candidate does not know that "Tar Baby" is a term that should be avoided at all times.  I guess the term "Tar Baby" is by Mitt's definition, "a Tar Baby."  For those who would be easily persuaded into thinking that this term isn't as much a racist slur as a political quip, note the photo attachment above which was taken from an existing Pancake House in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  And if THAT doesn't do it for you, just ask anyone that you come into contact with what he or she thinks of the word, "tar baby."  I did my own personal survey yesterday and found a 100 % poll result of this term as derogatory--ages from 15 to 85.

So, why the excuses?  I was drunk.  I had an alcoholic blackout...in Mel Gibson's case.  And, I was thinking about a different definition...in the case of Mitt Romney, who is by the way, a Bishop of the Mormon Church which I might add did not ordane Black Priests until 1978...  And in the case of those who signed the anti-gay petition in Massachusetts and those across the United States..."its my opinion" and "its only to allow others to vote on the topic"  Hmmmmm...

Talking the Talk when it comes to Bigotry IS in fact, Walking the Walk.

Tom Lang, Director