Hate IS Fear
We need to be clear on this
In my recent article, “Why Trump Wins,” I pointed out that the greatest power and the most effective motivator in politics is fear. Some people, understandably, sought to disagree, saying that it is not fear but hate that is behind Trump and his followers’ motivations and actions.
Yes, hatred is certainly present in the MAGA mob and many other political movements — including, sorry to say, many Democrats — but the hatreds that they spew are symptoms of a deeper dis-ease. Hatred is an emotion that springs from the individual weakness that is bigotry, and bigotry is fear.
Fearful Reactions
We all have a natural fear of the Other. How we deal with that fear is the difference between maturity and immaturity and between community and bigotry. A person has bigoted thoughts and feelings because they’ve given in to that fear of the Other.
It takes a degree of courage to accept people for who they are and how they are. It’s easier to deal with and accept people who are similar to oneself. Differences cause tensions between people and not everyone has the wherewithal to deal maturely with those tensions. Bigoted actions, like racism, are fearful reactions to others. Hatred is fearful lashing out against others. People hate because they can’t cope with difference. No…
