*** “Anew commandment I give to you, that ou love one another, as I have loved you.” [John 13: 34]
1] “Walmart rolls back DEI initiatives amid backlash”…”as conservative activists threaten boycotts on social media…Walmart will also discontinue DEI training..stop participating in the equality ratings by Human Rights Campaign..put guardrails on which community events, such as drag shows and Pride events, it supports through grants.”
“Walmart’s shift marks the latest win for the anti-DEI movement..gaining traction since the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in university admissions…”
“DEI refers to a wide range of practices that seek to increase employment and educational opportunities for historically marginalized groups. But critics contend the programs end up discriminating against non-minorities and say that policies should focus on race neutrality.”
“The conservative backlash grows despite 6 in 10 Americans having said that DEI initiatives are “a good thing,” according to a poll from the Washington Post and Ipsos.” [Julian Mark, Andrew Jeong; 11/28/24; Washgtn Post]
*** “You shall love your neighbor as yourself…The stranger that dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself.” [Leviticus. 19: 18, 34]
2] Have YOU ever noticed, people with Down’s syndrome are generally smiling and kind, they appear to hate nobody. They’re considered to be “handicapped” people. Isn’t it strange that people considered “handicapped” appear to hate NOBODY??? While people who DO hate others – are considered “normal”. people???
***. “The most effective way to silence our guilty conscience is to convince ourselves and others that those we sinned against are indeed depraved creatures, deserving every punishment, even extermination. We cannot pity those we have wronged, nor can we be indifferent toward them. We must hate and persecute them or else leave the door open to self-contempt.” [ Eric Hofer, “The True Believer” ]
3] In the last 10-15 years, numerous studies have been conducted on HATE and those that do, here are some:
A] “The Making of an American Nazi” [Luke O’Brien; December, 2017; The Atlantic]: ‘..during Trump’s candidacy suddenly it was OK to talk about banning Muslims or to cast Mexican immigrants as criminals and parasites..”
B]. “Addicted to Hate” [Wes Enzinna; July/August, 2018; Mother Jones]: “Starting at the age of 5, he received 2 hours of daily Bible study from his dad. He was schooled in the doctrine of “Christian identity,” which holds..the enslavement or extermination of all nonwhites will usher in the second coming of Christ.”
C]. “Make America Hate Again..Far Right Extremists Believe Trump’s Victory Has Catapulted Them Into Power..” [Josh Harkinson; January/February, 2017; Mother Jones]: “Thanks to Trump’s demagogic campaign..the alt-right now had an opportunity to inject racism, misogyny, and xenophobia into mainstream American politics…the normalization of the politics of hate.” [***. “..the NORMALIZATION OF THE POLITICS OF HATE.” ***]
*** “He that despises his neighbor sins.” [Proverbs. 14: 21]
4] “FBI says hate crimes in U.S. increased last year..More than 6,100 incidents were reported in 2016.” [Mark Berman; 11/14/17; Washington Post}
– “FBI reports spike in U.S. hate crimes..Total approaches level seen in 2008.” [Michael Balsamo; 11/17/20; Associated Press]: 7314 hate crimes in 2019; 7120 in 2018; 7783 in 2008 – which are UNDER-REPORTED because 2700 city police and county sheriffs DID NOT submit a single hate crime.
*** “Hatreds generally spring from fear or envy.” [ Machiavelli ]
5]. In 2022, the Southern Poverty Law Center established that there were at least 1,225 hate groups and anti-government groups; at least one in all 50 states.
*** “Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath, for all these things are things that I hate, says the Lord.” [ Zechariah. 8: 17 ]
6]. A MAJOR factor in post-1980 political turmoil and hate is perversion of religion. Read:
A] “When Religion Becomes Evil”. [Charles Kimball; 2002]: “The five warning signs of corruption in religion: absolute truth claims, blind obedience, establishing the ‘Ideal Time’, the end justifies any means, declaring holy war.”
B]. “Thy Kingdom Come..How The Religious Right Distorts The Faith And Threatens America”. [Randall Balmer; 2006]: the religious right uses selective literalism “to locate sin outside of evangelical subculture;” designate evil behavior of outsiders.
C] “Preparing For War..The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism – And What Comes Next” [Bradley Onishi; 2023]: on January 6, 2021 , “..religious symbols were everywhere..White Christian Nationalism was a major unifying phenomenon among the insurrectionists.”
D]. “Church & State”. is a monthly publication dealing with efforts to make America a “Christian Nation;” and reports how ordinary people – like YOU – are victimized by religious zealots. Virtually every issue has several pages of SPECIFIC instances where Americans – like YOU – had their lives turned upside down by religious zealots.
***. “I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there were a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. the hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.”
[ Reverend Billy Graham ]
7] “Christian Nationalists were very prominent in the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol. former Christian Nationalist Bradley Onishi reported “..busloads of White evangelicals were indeed among the rioters..dozens of people from churches in our home region had been there..” [ Church & State; March, 2023 ]
*** “I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me.” [ Republican Senator Barry Goldwater }
8]. “The Creep of Christian Nationalism”. [Elwood Watson; 4/1/24; The Progressive Populist}: “In 2022, a collection of right-wing writers and leaders published a document entitled “Conservatism: A Statement of Principles.” The section on God and public religion stated, “Where a Christian majority exists, public life should be rooted in Christianity and its moral vision, which should be honored by the state and other institutions both public and private.”
“this is an alarming and troubling statement, implying non-Christians should have second-class status in our country. That Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, and others should be deprived of equality under the law…the antithesis of worship enshrined in the Constitution.” [***!!!*** – And – consider this FACT: the biggest growing American “religious” group is: “the Nones”. – who belong to NO church – currently estimated about 30-34% of ALL American adults!!! – meaning; white Christian Nationalists are distinct MINORITY. – trying to establish THEIR theocracy over YOU. – with much significant help from the CORRUPT. Roberts “supreme court” ]
***. “I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man..being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.”
[. President George Washington. ]
9] Hatred corrodes the soul. If everybody that disagrees with us is our enemy, then perhaps that is why 198-2024
America has become what it is, and even more, all evidence of 2015-2024 shows. HATE. HAS. corroded the
collective American soul.
Clever communicators – on radio, TV, internet, public speeches – have POISONED the
minds of vulnerable, ill-informed & often desperate citizens – illustrated by vote
totals of 2010 – 2024.
Hatred conveniently divides and conquers citizens, who are too busy hating the wrong people – ignoring the REAL
villains – those with economic power – some of whom are now poised to inflict further harm in the name of
“reform,” or “government efficiency.”
***. “Is it not strange that the descendants of those Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own
freedom of opinion havew always proved themselves intolerant of the spiritual liberty of others?” [ General Robert E. Lee]
10] When you hate, you don’t think clearly and rationally. Witness 2024 events.
“One of America’s greatest presidents talked of. “Malice toward none, with charity for all..do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves..”
Little children don’t hate – they’re taught to hate.
With Justice For All 