August 8, 2006 11:13 AM
Where Does Hate Come From?
Years ago, I remember seeing a Dennis Leary PSA on MTV (or VH1 or something) that was designed to promote tolerance and fight racism. He was talking about his young son, and he said something like this: "You know what my son hates? NAPS. End of list." I don't know why I still remember that PSA, I don't even like Dennis Leary, but I've thought of it over the years because the message seemed so simple and decent: We aren't born hating anyone. It's something we learn.
Hate has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks, and I have been wondering where this powerful, destructive emotion comes from. I've been thinking about it mostly because of what is happening in Cuba right now, and the effect it is having on Cubans in the U.S. My parents came to the U.S. in the pre-Castro early 1950s, but many of their friends and relatives lived under Castro's regime. All of my relatives (except for one cousin) not only dislike the man, they hate him, and hold him responsible for the destruction of their homeland. Some had to flee their homeland because of him, some can't return to it because of him. Some lost their homes, their businesses, and were imprisoned.
I don't like to talk about politics on my blog. I don't care if you hate Castro or love him or feel nothing for him at all; I am not trying to make a political statement. But I put this out there because I was born and raised in the U.S., and we are taught (in my country and in my religion) not to hate anyone. Yet, in my family (immediate and extended), hatred of Castro was seen as ok, even expected. I think of my parents, educated and gentle people, and wonder what it would have been like to be them. To watch your family and country of birth ripped apart, and to hate the person (and persons) who did it. I think of it like the whole "even if you'd never kill anyone, you would probably kill someone who was threatening your child's life" concept. Somewhere deep within all of us, whether we admit it or not, I think we have it in us to hate on a level we can't fathom. Not that anyone wants to hate. It's just that sometimes, we have to.
Comments
I think you pegged it. There's no way to know how we would feel in certain circumstances. It's very easy to say we'd take the high road sitting in our comfortable homes in our comfortable country.
Posted by: Stacy at August 9, 2006 03:09 PM
