What exactly causes hate? What pushes hate from an emotion, to an action?

I've dislike some people, can not tolerate being around them. I've gotten mad at people. In any case, if any of them had got hurt and I was there, I would have done what I could to help them. I may even cry as a reaction to their being hurt. None of it would mean I've changed my feelings about the person. It's just that at that moment they were 'just' a human in need, which over rides personal feelings, at least for me. I know this is true because the situation has actually happened.

When I state I've had feelings about some people its individuals I talk about. People that I have had personal interaction with, not been towards groups of people.

I've actually thought it was impossible for me to actually 'hate' someone. I then found out different. I actually discovered one day I 'hated' someone, totally and completely, hated someone. I don't know what was worse for me to deal with, the person who I hated or that I actually felt 'hate'.

I have given my feelings of hate much thought. How could I hate anyone? What exactly was it that caused me to hate? Where was the turning point? Where did I go from dislike, to can't stand the sight of, to hate?

The same person also taught me 'fear'. I had thought I had feared things before but found out being scared of things or a situation is not 'fear'. That moment of 'fear' is more or less un-describable. I would not wish it on anyone.

It was that moment of 'fear' that made me take action to get away from this person. It was the reality of 'potential danger' for me. Yet, there was still not any hate at this point. I think the 'hate' came because the person would not totally just go away.

I did and still do wish this person dead. Yet, I could not hurt the person myself. The death I wished for was one caused by an accident. The death I wished for would have to be an act of fate, not a death brought on by a deliberate action on anyones part.

Bottom line, would I ever harm this person? No. The only way I would bring any harm to this person in any shape or form would be in self defense....protecting my own life.

If I ever found this person hurt, or dying would I offer help? I would have to just because of who I am and my beliefs. If I did not help him, I would be giving him the power to destroy who I am and I will not allow that. If you do not understand that statement as it is, I don't think I could explain to you.

So, why are there 'hate crimes'? I know the hate that causes them is not the same as I describe. It's a hate that is 'learned' from being told you should 'hate' this group or that group. It is not real 'hate'. It is an implanted thought, not a real original emotion brought on from an actual experience. So, where is the turning point that takes hate, the emotion, to an action to deliberately go out and harm the object of the hate?

I don't think there is one. I think harming an object of hate is only the scapegoat. The killing, mutilating, beating up or what ever of a group of people is only the reaction to something else in the person's life. The people that actually gain pleasure from their crimes, are just flat out demented!

I do not know if I am right or wrong. I am only stating my opinion. I've never known anyone that just hated anyone else for who they are or what race they are.

What I want is for everyone to think about the subject. Think about hate. Think about hate crimes. Maybe if we think about hate we can find away to stop the crimes, a way to stop discriminatory harm to someone just because their sexual preference or race. If you feel what you think is hate, ask your self, 'Why do I hate?'. 'Is it a real hate?' 'Is it something you have been taught to do?' ' What did that person or group do to you personally that makes you hate them?'

Do you realize the negativity of hate does more harm to the person doing the hate then it does to the object of the hate?

Remember, we are all in this life together. We all are harmed every time something like this happens. A seed planted grows. For every hate crime, there is a retaliation somewhere by someone else. One, by one the ripple continues until maybe, just maybe, you end up being the object of someone's hate crime.

I wrote this article because of what I read in Salon.com. It was an article on George W. Bush, Why Won't George W. Bush Talk About AIDS The article is mainly about AIDS but it points out his lack of discusion on gay issues and lack of interest in hate crimes. I agree with what is said, its the 'lack' of discusing the issues that is bothering. I think that if would be well worth your time to read it and maybe those of you that are in a position to do so, force the issues out. We all need to work together in life and avoiding issues that we prefer not to talk about harms everyone. Ignoring something does not make it go away!

Just think about it!

Lynn Beck