We have been told by religious clergy, civic leaders and professional psychologists that hate is a very bad emotion. It takes away our ability to reason and think objectively. It leads us to dangerous and destructive actions. And it even intoxicates the hater.
That is why I have spent my life never hating another human being – or groups of human beings. I can certainly disagree with folks. Some may even find me disagreeable. I very much disrespect people who do bad things and believe in bringing them to justice – but never hate them.
Oh … I do use the word “hate” as synonymous with “dislike” – as “I hate Spam and spiders.” But never when referring to a person I may dislike or disrespect.
Most people who harbor hate deny it, of course. It is never very convincing to all those who see the hatred in their words and actions. Hate does not like to be hidden in the recesses of our minds. It wants to be manifest – on full display — and usually is.
Recently a Trump hater admitted to his absolute out-of-control Trump hate.
In a morning interview on national television, Tennessee Democrat Congressman Steve Cohen admitted that he hates Trump – really hates him. He even emphasized and amplified his hatred for Trump by repeating his proclamation several times.
Of course, we could only diagnose everything he said prior to his admission as chronic hatred for Trump. According to Cohen, there seems to be no punishment too cruel or too unjust to impose on Trump. Most of which was nonsensical piling on – as haters are prone to do. Cohen ranted as though he was that loud voice in a lynch mob calling for vigilante justice.
While Cohen’s admission was a bit of a surprise, his unbridled Trump hate – and even Republicans, in general – was in full flourish during the first impeachment in which he was one of the inquisitors. He has long ago revealed himself as the kind of brittle strident partisan that seems to see unity, comity and cooperation as weaknesses.
His toxicity puts him on constant attack mode, provokes righteous outrage from those he maliciously attacks and contributes to the divisive polarization we see in American politics today. Cohen is the problem, not the solution.
Sadly, Cohen is not alone in his hate-based approach to politics, but seems to be the only one willing to admit that the demons of his mind drive him, rather than the better angels of his soul.
So, there ‘tis.