"Hate's not functional; why are we taught it?" Ursula K. LeGuin, The Dispossessed

"As every actor knows, rage is the easiest emotion to fake; and as every politician knows, hate is the easiest emotion to arouse in others." -Orson Scott Card

Hate is contagious; it spreads from mouth to ear. The taboo on expressing hate in public is not a taboo on admitting sickness, but rather an admonishment to cover your mouth when you sneeze.

-- Raro

James,

I wish I could explain my thoughts on issues the way you can, because that was brilliant. I've been trying to say that exact thing to people for god knows how long, but when I say it, it always comes out the wrong way. Thank You.

I don't know if this is the place for this or not, but reading your entry made my mind race about the Democrats and the Republicans. On one side, you have a party (the Democrats) who are saying, in essence, Gays are seperate but equal. On the other hand, you have a party saying, in essence, Gays suck, and we're not going to give them the same rights as straights have.

So which one is worse?

At least we have the clarity with the republicans to know that we have to fight against them. They've been completely open and honest with us about our chances of acceptance with them. With the democrats, the water seems cloudy, but it's really not. They'll skake our hand, but there had better be some hand sanitizer in close proximity. They're like the stuck up aunt that presses her cheek to your's instead of giving you a kiss because she's afraid of your germs.

Here's the key to this piece. No, I don't like HATE per see but I believe it is honest. Understanding that its emotional roots come from fear is the key to understanding and gives us important clues in how to deal with it.

When we hear a hate preacher like Phelps, Hucklebee or Dobson carrying on like a baboon, at least its honest and we know where we stand-- even if we won't turn our back on them.

I suggest an experiment:

Watch a politician who is really wound up about something: doesn't matter what-- gays, immigration, terrorism, take your pick.

Watch their body language and their hand gestures. Then go to the zoo and watch baboons pay particular attention to the angry and/or frightened ones. The answer reveals itself.