Thread by @donohue_rebekah

This is upsetting, but I cannot stay quiet anymore. Apologies for the length, it is a book.

A VERY LONG argument to the Nationalist, White Supremacist, the racist, bigot, *anyone* who spews hate on the rest of the world. Most especially when claiming to be devoutly religious.

I have watched video after video of White people spewing hatred on others; I am especially focused on this issue.

Racism, bigotry, and hate is growing all over the world in every society. We humans have a large capacity for hate.

I am not particularly religious. But, practicing racism, bigotry and hate, then laying claim to being religious does not track.

Central to the major religions are the concepts of God creating humans in (His) own image, loving thy neighbor, doing unto others as you would do unto yourself.

Practicing Nationalism, racism, bigotry, hatred of ANY KIND, is diametrically opposed to these tenets.

Believing in the basic tenets of the major religions, hating others is hatred toward God, plain and simple. If God created Man in (His) own image, that means ALL humans, does it not?

Does that not include people of every color, every background, every culture, everywhere?

The practice of hate implies God created certain humans, but not others, as equal. It is second guessing God's creations based on the color of skin, culture, religion, region of another.

Racism, bigotry and hate makes no reasonable sense. Hate comes from fear and rage, based on emotion not reason.

Religion is based on acceptance and love as ascribed to these beliefs.

How is it possible to legitimately practice both simultaneously?

Hate is a terrible feeling to walk around with. It can be exciting when in a crowd being enticed to scream a hate filled rant as seen in many rallies.

Are these screams of hate based on facts? Or is this a crowd reacting to the high emotion of lies, persuasion, and showmanship?

Lies, persuasion, showmanship, and corruption are dangerous allies.

Truth and the willingness to hear it, is necessary to break through the vicious cycle of racism, bigotry and hate.

When one lie after another is being broadcast, and normalizing of outrageous behavior is done daily, it is difficult to know what is real.

In plain language, I have seen too many angry and raging people outright attacking others of all ilk with their abject hatred.

If not disheartening enough in America, other Countries still experience genocide and entire populations fleeing due to hate and bigotry.

People are fearful Immigrants will threaten jobs, economy, and safety.

Immigrants do jobs other Americans have routinely refused.

Immigrants have contributed to the economy where they live and have a statistically LOWER crime rate than that of other Americans.

Back to religion. A good place to start in thinking about changing views.

Open a Holy Book of the major religions. Is there any place where this Holy Book instructs acolytes to practice hatred toward others of God's creations?

Find a place in this Holy Book where acolytes are encouraged to hate people from outside the Community or Country.

Or is the encouragement to welcome the stranger? Feed them, clothe them, and house them as one of God's own?

Who is encouraging the hate and why? What is the true agenda?

When this persuasive speech is made, what facts can be proven and what lies are told?

The last is important. Where are the facts to support these claims coming from? Can they be cross checked?

Anyone can state facts. Is there a proven record of accuracy? Or is there a routine history of lying?

What other facts can be checked?

Polls? Who is doing them? Who is being polled? How many people are polled? Is it comprehensive?

Do research, do not accept word of mouth.

Being open to change is hard work. Staying stuck is easy.

Before attending the next rally and being influenced to scream, "lock her up!", before attacking someone on the street who is different, stop and think.

Why would a *leader* try to encourage *followers* to hate? What does exclusion buy?

Exclusion is often about power and control of assets. Eliminating entire classes seen as being a drain on assets, maintaining control of others. Exclusion by a individual known for Autocracy or Dictatorship has no real interest in the citizens of the Nation represented.

Rounding up a base of the like-minded can be as simple as repeating promises and lies to one class of people against all others.

Membership of this *club* makes people feel smart and special. Members assume the Leader tells the truth, and is above reproach.

Lies, corruption, persuasion and showmanship are all part and parcel of maintaining the base and suppressing all others.

Stepping out of the rage and hate this *membership* provokes allows for reasonable thought to check the real facts.

In this charged climate, question everything.

Are the demands placed on the base preserving Democracy or disrupting it? Is the rhetoric hateful?

When emotions of rage begin to rise, question.

Where does this racism and bigotry come from? Is it reasonable?

America is divided in a dangerous way. The completeness of it orchestrated. The average citizens are pawns in bid for control, setting each upon the other.

The will to mend this division must start with each individual. Each willing to stop reacting to the lies of others.

The practice of racism, bigotry and hate must end for the benefit of America.

The practice of hate is antiquated. It is unsound and unfounded.

The next generation of Americans gives me hope that the practice of hate will end before we destroy each other.

The most important way to fight hate is by VOTING.
#VoteNovember6th
#SaturdayThoughts