Finding ways to deal with hate

Humankind seems to be in the throes of an epidemic of hate, and we are having a hard time extricating ourselves from this outbreak. The media reports daily on terrorist attacks, antisemitism and Islamophobia, family violence and political attempts to address hate speech. The Oxford dictionary word of the year is “rage bait,” online content designed to promote hate.

My conundrum with all of this is that we people actually know better, so where does this justification of hate come from?

But first a disclaimer. I will not be defining hate, many people wiser than me have tried and failed. Governments, as per the discussion on Bill C-9, have foundered in their attempts to do so. I appreciate their endeavours but wonder if it can be legislated away.

Similarly, I appreciate the media’s efforts to inform us and address hate but wonder if we would be just as well off if we weren’t continuously confronted with hateful realities. Perhaps it would be better if we named and called out what we see as hateful speech and actions in our own homes, our communities and especially our places of worship instead of expecting governments and the media to do it for us.

Nevertheless, hatred is a blight on our world(s), and I think we might agree that it is a serious problem facing us — something that often makes us afraid and angry — a human injustice, if you will. And it seems to be getting worse to the point where some people believe it to be inevitable and irreconcilable, a normal consequence of people(s) with deep-seated differences working out how to co-exist (or not). And it’s not that difficult to identify some arrangements, relationships, mores and practices which contribute to hate.

Some examples. Recently Western governments have, without evidence other than its popular with some, publicly blamed and attacked recent immigrants for increasing illegal activity, stealing jobs and reducing public safety. Some have adopted policies eliminated DEI, founded on the democratic values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The same ones have singled out people of colour, the gender diverse, and women as targets for loss of health, food security and human rights provisions and protections. Why? It’s hate translating into votes. A sad commentary on our society!

A blatant media example. When an immigrant Muslim man risked his life to save Jewish people in Australia, some mainstream media reported that the Arab world was angry with him, implying several generalizations which are simply not true. There is no such thing as a single-minded, vindictive Arab world. Not all Arabs are Muslim. Most Arabs and Muslims do not hate Jews. A story of unselfish sacrifice turned into divisive narrative. Why? Hate sells papers!

My third culprits are fundamentalist religious extremists, those who act as if their mission on Earth is to either force everyone to accept their beliefs or to systematically wipe them out through violent means, using divisive politics, insidious legalism or senseless terrorism — hate-filled and hate-fuelled actions justified on the basis of religious differences.

Their justifications are that they are holders of “freedom of religion,” absolute truths, and victim-heirs of historical, ongoing, and unforgiveable harms. Why? In their eyes, hate trumps love!

Where do these attitudes and perspectives come from? Our first clue is that children are not born with them, they must be taught them.

Where are the seeds of hate planted, nurtured and thrive? In some homes, schools, community groups, and places of worship.

One thing I am sure of is that they are not tolerated in Manitoba public schools, in spite of the efforts of some adults to make them sites of personal advantage, ethnic and class discrimination, and divisive indoctrination.

In every public school diversity is embraced and celebrated, respect for and acceptance of others is in the school codes and the curriculum, and teachers uphold the equal rights of all children, a model for how a democracy should protect the membership of all its citizens.

One other thing I believe is that hatred has no place in the public domain — for a public to form and survive hatred needs to remain a private challenge. As a child I learned, often through severe reprimand, that “rage bait” — insinuations, insults, name calling, threats, swearing, bullying and hate speech does not belong in the public realm.

As an adult, I now realize that they contaminate and undermine any sense of a public as a human solidarity where everyone belongs, is valued and respected.

I also learned and know that not all moral disagreement and confrontation is hate. In fact, done civilly, both are necessary in democracies as signs that we acknowledge our individuality as well as our responsibility to the greater good. And somewhat ironically, Christianity, the very religion claimed by some haters, stresses turning the other cheek and offering forgiveness as an alternative to retaliation and harm.

We do know better!

John R. Wiens is dean emeritus at the faculty of education, University of Manitoba.