The root of hatred

This is response to the Oct. 15 article, “The Study of Hate.” We don’t need to enroll in a Hate Studies program to understand how hate works. No person is immune from the capacity of feeling or expressing hatred, so cannot claim a moral high ground. It is not confined to white supremacists. Consider the Antifa movement. Certain members have at times become angry and violent.

Hatred is defined as an extreme dislike or aversion. If we look back at times we have felt hatred, we can point to one of three causes: anger, fear or resentment. Once we admit this, we can deal with why we feel angry, fearful or resentful. This involves a willingness to look at our perceptions of others and how others perceive us. We can all do our own “study of hate” by reflecting on our own thoughts, actions and reactions.

We should also avoid groupthink, as emotions are always felt by individuals and never by groups.

Craig Detmer

Spokane