We Are Being Trained to Hate

The vaccinated are being trained to hate the unvaccinated because they are told they are a threat to their lives.  The unvaccinated are being trained to hate the vaccinated because they fear they want to take away their freedom.  Those who wear masks are being trained to hate those who do not wear masks because they fear they will make them sick.  Those who do not wear masks are being trained to hate those who wear masks because they view them as a threat to their liberty.
 
Black people are being trained to hate white people because they have been told that they have been and continue to be a threat to them.  White people are being trained to hate black people because they feel an increasing fear of reverse racism as critical race theory takes hold.
 
Climate change believers are being trained to hate climate “deniers” because they are being fed the fear that the world will reach a point of no return if deniers continue to prevent proper action from taking place.  Climate change skeptics are being trained to hate climate change activists because they fear radical climate policies will destroy their way of life.
 
Democrats are being trained to hate Republicans.  Republicans are being trained to hate Democrats.  Traditional Liberal Democrats are being trained to hate Social Justice Democrats and Social Justice Democrats are being trained to hate Liberals are not sufficiently “woke”.  Populist “Trump” Republicans are being trained to hate Establishment Republicans and Establishment Republicans are being trained to hate Trump supporters.
 
Hate is being sown in nearly every aspect of our culture.  Hate fosters division and division perpetuates and deepens hate.  Hate turns us from brother, friend, or neighbor to an “other”.   Hate turns “live and let live” to “silence and destroy”.  Hate leads to neighbors informing against neighbors.  Hate leads to detention camps and “Final Solutions”.
 
Fear is the tool of those who sow hate.  Fear is being used to manipulate us, to make us hate and to divide us.  Fear and hate are being used to control us.  And in the end, is there anything more frightening than giving control to those who would gain power through fear and hate?
 
The antidote to fear is faith and trust in God.  It is no coincidence that as our country turns further from God the more given over to fear we have become.  This mortal life is so fleeting and impermanent and yet some would imperil their souls to somehow protect it and to fashion it to their liking.
 
The two Great Commandments Jesus gave us were to love God and to love our neighbor.  We love God by trusting in him and not living in fear.  We love our neighbor by viewing him or her as a fellow child of God and not as an enemy.  We must reject fear and hate and live lives ruled by faith and love.