Hate is Hate

Hate speech is hate speech and hate is hate. It doesn’t matter what form it takes, what shirt it wears, what color it comes in, what time of day it occurs or what event it follows. Hate speech is the same if it comes from a white man, shaved bald, wearing a swastika tattoo or a black woman using Twitter to call for violence against any white man just because he’s white. Hate is hate and hate is wrong.

Consider the following quote:

The Aryan Nation is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Anglo-Saxons are systematically and intentionally targeted for their ‘white privilege.’ It is an affirmation of Anglo contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of increasing oppression. The Aryan Nation is unapologetically white.

Now anyone would admit that’s a pretty racist monologue. We all know saying things like “unapologetically white” makes the speaker intolerant and bigoted. We also know the Aryan Nation is a declared hate group.

Ok – so I set you up. What you may not know is that quote actually comes from the Black Lives Matter page (www.blacklivesmatter.com). I modified it by swapping out “Black Lives” with “Anglo-Saxons” and “Black Lives Matters” with “Aryan Nation.” Why did you just change your opinion about the quote? Are hate and racism only white problems?

In my FB feed I found a snapshot that white man posted to Twitter, “if you’re a black man with an afro haircut, I’m just going to assume you’re BLM and hit you” or “honestly them just BEING a black man alone is reason enough for me to hit em at this point.” Should he be considered a racist? I ask because again, I swapped out “white” for “black” and “nazi” for “BLM.”

My point is racism, hate, and hate speech must be colorblind else we risk swinging from one extreme to the other. Racism and hate divide. They seeks to divide and conquer. Hate seeks to gain superiority over another, to steal, kill and destroy peace and unity. (John 10:10)

Love, on the other hand, is patient and it is kind. It does not envy, nor boast, and is not proud. As 1 Corinthians 13:4 shows us, love is blind, it is unassuming, it does not seek superiority; rather, love defers to others and honestly seeks to find joy in others’ success.

So love one another (John 13:34) and withstand the onslaught of evil. Be better by being the servant. Give deference and love where pain and hate abound.

For God will provide where hate divides.