"Tim J." wrote

Yeah, that one addresses my point just as well. Thanks. And I really
*do* appreciate you reaching out to me to help me find some common
ground. ;-)
--
Your wallowing ****wit pal,
Tim
------------------------


My response to the editorial was instant " damn, we don't need this guy on
OUR side" ... if I saw the "left" and "liberals" as being like him, I might
even sink to voting for Bush ... slinging hate filled vulgarity is NOT what
I stand for ( this was especially endearing " You become a bit more wary and
alert and you stock up on the superlative porn ....").

"Left wing" hate is no better than chanting "kill a liberal for Christ"

I'm not sure how, or, if, it pertains but here is something I wrote a couple
years ago ..... and I think it applies to BOTH sides now that the battle
lines are more obvious, the civil war more likely, .... but still more to
the right than the left ....

.................................................. .............................
.................................................. .............................

To me, the most frightening thing about the increasing number of people on
the 'far right' is how many of them are so hate filled. Indeed the move to
the right is largely being fueled by the cheap fix of hate ... something
with far too much destructive history to ignore.

Giving "permission to hate" is probably the easiest way to manipulate the
masses, it's worked over and over throughout history. I'm sad to say that
this country is showing clear signs of a decade of having "spokesmen" from
the Right give permission to hate. First to hate, but never really define,
"liberals." Then, oh so conveniently, to call most anything you don't
like, "liberal," and thus make it hated.

I honestly believe that anger and hate are addictive. This is partly
because they provide the "cheapest fix" for those needing a "self esteem"
boost. A second reason is that the strong emotion involved "spices" lives
that are otherwise too bland to tolerate.... feeling bad being "better"
than not feeling, at all.

Both are far less costly ... in terms of current real effort required, than
alternate ways to achieve the desired "quick fix." ...but, of course, very
expensive over a lifetime, like all addictions.

Through hatred one can always see oneself as "better than" others without
the tedious work involved in actually doing anything to prove that
superiority. It is so tempting and easy to fall into this trap, that it is
one of the classic ways to manipulate populations.

Give people a group or person to hate and they will follow where otherwise
they would never go .... it has worked for "leaders" throughout history, and
continues to work today. Bin Laden "allows and encourages" hate of the
West and suddenly, some of the poorest people on earth, living in wretched
conditions, feel "better than," some of the richest ... and are willing to
die ... to maintain that feeling .

It's a working strategy, on the other side too. An enemy to hate has
certainly vastly increased the "popularity" and political strength of
people in the U.S. ...people that have actually done nothing to justify it.

Indeed, the Rush to the Right we're seen in this country the last decade
has largely been fueled by the power of hate .. unintentionally at first (
Rush, himself, has nothing but hate .... i.e. lowering others ... without it
he'd still be a poor, lonely, misfit ) .... then when it was seen how big a
following it was getting, intentionally within the "right'

People, leaders of not, often don't want to give up the "advantages" they
find in hating.....they become addicted to it. In the case of leaders they
even look for new enemies to give you permission to hate ... to manipulate
you


Here are two quick real stories from my life. I believe they illustrate
the dynamic I'm trying to discuss ...blind hate making people "feel better
about themselves" at no real cost ( except the obvious spiritual ones )

first, about 1952

Walking with my grandmother down the street in a rural Va town, where she
worked as a maid, and was a poor white.

A very well dressed, clearly very successful, black woman approached from
the other direction, and my grandmother said to granddad, "Look at that
******, walking down the street, like she was as good as us."

I was about 6 and thank God I saw that for what it is,
......you can always feel good about yourself, without ANY actual achievement
or contribution, IF you allow yourself to hate
.... here was a poor white, whose only way to find "self respect" was to
lower others
... it's a common theme amongst humans


second story

about 1998 or 9

A young man was working as apprentice to me, and simply lacked the needed
emotional and mental tools to succeed in my business .... he was having a
rough time. I was having to repeatedly point out his errors.

One morning I finally suggested that he might be happier trying a different
field.

I'm sure his self esteem was suffering, he looked very 'down.'

We took separate cars to a new location, and he listened to his
"conservative talk radio" on the drive.

We we arrived he got out of the car, absolutely brimming with smile. He
said, in all seriousness, " I may not be worth **** at this, but, at least
I'm not a ****ing liberal."

He strutted around like a Banty rooster, having found a cheap way to be
"better than" so many people. Rush had told him it was OK to hate
"liberals," and it made him feel so good he glowed.