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Listen as Raphael and Lexi discuss my essay "Resisting America's Hate Problem." The Source they refer to is the essay which is reprinted below. Their lively conversation brings out the main point: each of us should resist the temptation to fear people who are different as well as refusing the follow leaders who use hate to gain followers. We can break the hate by connecting to people who are different.
“They’re eating dogs… eating cats… the people that came in are eating pets!” The bizarre declaration by Vance and Trump about legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio went viral from the presidential debate last year. Local officials denied the stories, immigrants shared their life stories of overcoming hardship, and no animal bodies were found—yet the rumors about what “they” were doing persisted across the airwaves to influence voters.
“They” are always a threat. The hate multiplies faster than the truth could ever move.
The strategy of finding scapegoats who are different and threatening has worked for millennia. Ancient tribes on every continent fought incessant wars. Mayan versus Aztec, Persians versus Egyptians, American settlers versus Native tribes, Jews versus Arabs, Nazis versus Jews—the list covers all of humanity. Leaders denounce the others as the source of all the problems and a threat to livelihood.
Nationalist leaders in America have followed this same pattern of hate and fear. The Native Indian tribes were driven out in the 17th century. Irish were denounced in the 18th century and Chinese in the 19th. The mid-twentieth century heard claims Communists were infiltrating society to overthrow the government. Ten years ago candidate Trump highlighted Mexican immigrants as criminals, drug lords, and murderous gangs that were flooding our cities. The past four years the target has included transgender predators who are taking over kids sports and destroying families.
The claims are outrageous, unscientific, and destructive. But they grab headlines and mislead voters by the millions. The promise is that a strong-arm leader will save us from what “they” are doing.
Let’s be honest. The accusations against the others aren’t true. The only truth is that the leaders who fan the hate gain support from the fearful and misinformed.
Psychologists tell us that our minds are wired for survival and safety. Recognizing a threatening situation could make the difference of life or death. Other people are different and that raises the possibility of danger. They don’t talk English so who knows what they are saying, or our daughters will be assaulted by men with a different skin color. In addition, there may also be the battle for scarce resources. The common refrain is that they are taking our jobs at home and abroad. That opposing group could be larger than we are, so we are in danger of being overrun by people flooding across the borders or having a great army that can defeat us.
Today we must resist the flood of misinformation promoted by those seeking power. Press conferences, influencer interviews, and social media posts seek to create fear and distrust. The voices shout about the danger some group poses. “They are eating dogs! Follow me and I will save us!”
We must name the anti-immigrant fears that have led to deportations as hateful bigotry.
We must name the anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim speeches as destructive of our shared society.
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