The other

I'm very disturbed by the social climate in this country today that makes it "okay" to devalue and demonize whole groups of people. History is replete with examples of how this climate turns into disaster. This dynamic is explored in an article called "Love the Other as Yourself". Here's part of what it says:

The Other is a concept as old as mankind.

We know that on every continent, the name of a tribe or group usually translates as "We People." "Hopi," for example, means "peaceful person" or "civilized person." Inuit means "the people." For Tony Hillerman fans, the Navaho's word for themselves, "Dine'e" means "the people." Wampanoag? "Eastern people." It's even true for America. When the founding fathers created this country, the first words they used were "We the people..."

That makes anyone who is not "We the people," into "The Other."
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The principle "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" has turned out to be not only wise and generous, but self-protective as well.

However, instilling and flaming a fear of The Other is a time-honored way for kings, politicians, religious leaders and others seeking power to control their followers. As Rogers and Hammerstein wrote so long ago, "You've got to be taught/To hate and fear/You've got to be taught/From year to year/It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear/You've got to be carefully taught."

In recent years, especially in this country, hatred has gotten out of control. Who are we being taught to hate? African-American rappers? Abortion doctors? Scientific researchers? College professors? Bloggers? The list goes on and on, and it's being drummed into our dear little ears on a daily basis.

If you are being taught how to hate in any fashion, you should examine your teachers. You will soon see that their motivation has little to do with protecting you and much to do with protecting their own turf.

One of my many fears is that America, inflamed by a nationally sanctioned fear of The Other, will erupt into dismal action. That is how the Germans allowed themselves to be led to the Holocaust, and we are deluded if we don't think it can happen here.

It's already happening here. We think it is okay to torture The Other and to imprison The Other without due process and to spy on The Other. People, this is not going to end well. Really.