By John Johnson
Throughout the history of America’s democracy, mankind’s two essential emotions, love and hate, continue to have a significant impact on its democratic form of governance. If this is true, why hasn’t mankind been able to manage these two competing emotions? Peace is continuously interrupted by wars and democracy is eroded by partisanship rather than strengthen by bipartisanship.
Yet, failing to realize that hate as an emotion too has the power to redirect the moral compass of a Nation once misguided by an unfit president and a complicit Republican party. However, this hatred must be focused on eliminating those elements/events that threaten to destroy rather than achieve a more perfect Union.
This perspective raises the following question: Can mankind learn to use love and hate such that rather than competing against each other, they interact to produce a positive outcome?
For example, Lincoln’s love for the Union and hatred toward succession, resulted in the Civil War of 1861. America’s deadliest war ended in 1865 with the defeat of the Confederate South and thereby preserved the Union. Lincoln’s love and hatred joined to serve a greater purpose.
Another analysis of the love v hate relationship can be gleaned from the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King loved America and all its great honorable and inalienable rights written in the Constitution. But King with every fiber within is body hated and demonstrated mightily against America’s denial of these same rights to Blacks.
Unfortunately, Dr. King’s very love for Country and hatred toward injustices cost him his life. But it paved the way forward for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Let’s now turn our attention to the white supremacists’ segment of America. Their love of this Country for themselves and the former 45th president has created a threatening atmosphere filled with hate. This threat materialized on January 6, 2021, with the siege of the Capitol Building by Trump’s inspired hate mongering insurrectionists.
Further, an account of one of America’s bloodiest massacres, the Tulsa Massacre of May 31, 1921, must be retold and etched into the conscience of white America. This massacre occurred because of white’s love for supremacy, power and hatred of Blacks who had achieved self-reliance and a measure of wealth. Also, this massacre, fueled by hate, included the coordination and participation of the Nation’s own government making it systemic. More Black people were killed during these 18 days of terror than during the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attack combined.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor lasted one hour and 15 minutes and 9/11 lasted less than a half workday. Can you imagine the unbelievable horror that our own Black people felt not only from the firebombs being dropped on them but realizing it was being done by their very own government? Plus, the vigilantes who shot and killed them at random had been deputized by local Tulsa Official. To this very day, no direct
monetary reparations have been awarded.
Amazingly, in order to demonstrate love and compassion to foreign countries bombed by America , billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been donated to rebuild them. Last week, President Biden pledged to donate millions to help rebuild Israel and Palestine cities damaged by the recent 11 days war.
Shamefully, why has America continuously refused to demonstrate its atonement for enslaving, murdering, and hating Blacks? No reparations have been awarded to the descendants of Blacks held in slavery for over 240 years and to the descendants of the Tulsa Massacre. Is it because these victims were Black?
Coach, “Doc.” Rivers said it best, “Why do we keep loving this Country and this Country doesn’t love us back?”
Remember America, love joined by hatred toward injustices can serve a greater good for all mankind!
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