Dennis Prager (via Amritas) divides Americans into two groups:
Those who are ashamed of America for being hated and those who wear this hatred as a badge of honor.
For weeks now I've been trying to understand those who disagree with me, and for weeks Amritas has been trying to get me to see that which Den Beste has said before: "It is more important what you stand for than who you stand with." I know this deep down, but my recent feelings of sadness and pessimism have been hard to shake. But tonight I finally understand what it means to be hated.
Sometimes being hated is the right thing. Sometimes being hated is not so much a reflection of you as it is a reflection of those who hate you. And sometimes being hated is something you should wear as a badge of honor.
I grok that now. Thanks for not giving up on me, Marc.
Posted by Sarah at June 23, 2004 10:06 PMI'm glad you grok it now. I know it is harder when you have friends and probably family who are so against your views and feelings. I have a son who is so very liberal that it bewilders me. He is extremely intelligent and successful and soooooo liberal. The good news is that we just have to agree to disagree and love each other anyway. No hate is involved so I don't have that problem. But in local politics within a little organization I am in, and I'm talking about a group that is totally inconsequential to the way the world turns, things have gotten so out of hand that I do feel hated by some of them and am almost ready to return the favor. Not a happy situation. But they are people I do not love, some of them I do not even like, so it doesn't matter to me what they think. If they don't matter they can hate me if they want, as the old saying goes, its no skin off my back. But at your age it would have mattered, my age tells me just don't sweat it. Enough said.
Posted by: Ruth H at June 24, 2004 12:56 AMGrokking means seeing all sides. Not just one and it's imagined opposite.
Where does anger come from?
Posted by: Warbaby at June 24, 2004 07:13 AMHey Sarah,
"A few days went by with no sign of a verdict from the principal. Actually, it was a nice break from the chaos and it gave me time to reflect over all that was happening. I have to admit being called a racist, a bastard, and being threatened hurt. I had seen first-hand just how angry and blind the left could be."
Here's a kid who knows exactly how you feel. What you were feeling is pretty normal. Anger and hatred directed at you, for any reason, hurts. Whether it's because of the color of your skin or your politics.
Just consider what you stand for and whether, as den Beste said, what you stand for. It doesn't remove the hurt, but it helps.
Kal
Posted by: Kalroy at June 24, 2004 07:14 AM"Sometimes being hated is the right thing. Sometimes being hated is not so much a reflection of you as it is a reflection of those who hate you. And sometimes being hated is something you should wear as a badge of honor."
Looks like someone agrees with you . . .
"I didn't quit, I never thought of resigning and I stood up to it and beat it back . . . The whole battle was a badge of honor. I don't see it as a stain, because [the impeachment process] was illegitimate." —Bill Clinton
Posted by: Doug Gillett at June 24, 2004 07:29 PM