Thursday, December 02, 2004

When it's okay to hate

Jerusalem Post article by Shmuley Boteach

The UN decision last week not to condemn the Sudanese government for genocide against its black Christian population, as well as the European hatred of George Bush more than Saddam Hussein, were the catalysts for this analysis of the positive power of hate.

...hatred of evil has gone out of fashion because it implies both the right to make judgments, as well as a belief in absolutes, both of which are anathema in a secular age.

...only because Churchill hated Hitler, was he able to inspire a nation to oppose him. Those French who did not hate Hitler collaborated with him instead.

...many Christians believe that it is wrong to hate murderers. They quote Jesus teaching to turn the other cheek and his admonishment to love your enemies as proof that we dare never hate. But Jesus advocated turning the other cheek to petty slights and affronts to personal honor, not to mass graves and torture chambers.

...Loving victims might generate compassion for their suffering; but only hating their persecutors can generate action to stop mass murder.
We often hear that the problem with the world today is that there isn't enough love? In a way, perhaps the opposite is true?

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