Can Hatred Cause Protests, Death and Rapid Crime?

The word #hate is described as, "intense hostility and aversion, deriving from fear, anger or sense of injury: to express or feel extreme enmity or active hostility," based on Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. Notice the intensity of the language expressed within the definition of hatred. Words like "intense hostility" or extreme opposition toward someone or something. Terrible words that allow seeds to be planted through anger or dislike to the highest degree. How did we get to this point other than being imperfect?

Now that we understand the definition of hatred, can we just blame it on imperfection? Once again, we have free will to make decisions to demonstrate hatred. The time and effort it takes to follow through with hateful activity although it is not natural because we are not born to hate each other. We are created in the image of #God, who is love. It is normal to think of others in a positive manner, not in a negative manner. When we think of each other negatively, this may be done because we do not know the person. Hatred can even cause us not to have the desire to get to know the person we hate. This makes it easier to express hatred.

Pure Hatred Through the Destructive Actions of a Suicide Bomber in the UK

The pain in my heart and prayers went out to parents, children, friends, and neighbors of #Manchester which is outside London, England. A #suicide bomber, brought havoc and demonic misery when twenty-two were killed and more than fifty-nine were injured. "This attack was notable not just for the number of victims but for their age. This was a concert for young people," as mentioned on CBS This Morning. Concert goers of the #Ariana Grande performance innocently left this event and loss their lives. "Senseless and the hate behind it, you see the worst and the best of people," said commentator Nora O'Donnell. How sad and ignorant that Isis claimed responsibility for this horrific tragedy. Jeremiah 45:5 gives a powerful point about individuals seeking prominence and glory. "But you are seeking great things for yourself. Stop seeking such things. For I am able to bring a calamity on all flesh declares Jehovah, and wherever you may go I will grant you your life as a spoil."

Entertainer Ariana Grande was described as "The twenty-three-year-old Grammy nominee is a massive star. Filling concert venues around the world and with 106 million followers have one of the largest Instagram accounts on the planet." Grande was devastated when she discovered what happened to fans after her performance. #CBS This Morning, featured British Prime Minister Theresa May, who gave her reaction to the suicide bomber's destructive forces, "So often while we experience the worst of humanity in Manchester last night, we also saw the best. The cowardice of the attacker met the bravery of the emergency services and the people of Manchester. The attempt to divide us met countless acts of #kindness that brought people closer together. And in the days ahead those must be the things we remember."

Performer Justin Timberlake summed it up on social media by stating, "We need to do better. We need to #LOVE ONE ANOTHER." If we demonstrated this love toward each other, there would be no words such as "suicide bombers" nor will violent actions like this be carried out. Revelation 7:9,14 states, "Never give in to the negative, degraded, twisted thinking of Satan's old world. Think of the life that will soon open up before you." May these positive words of hope for the future be a source of encouragement during these difficult times.

An Injustice In Russia Against Freedom of Religion For Some Residents

A clear example of individuals not getting to know other individuals which caused religious freedoms to possibly be taken away is, "#Russia's 'Federal Law on Extremist Activity' is being #misapplied to Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. Jehovah's Witnesses strive to be good citizens. We are known worldwide for our peaceful activities, and under no circumstances would we ever resort to any activity that could #legitimately be construed as 'extremist' or criminal in nature," expressed a Letter-Writing Campaign Supporting Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

The instructions in this letter-writing campaign went on to explain, "On March 15, 2017, the Ministry of Justice in Russia filed a claim with the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation seeking 'to declare the religious organization, the Administrative Center of #Jehovah's Witnesses, extremist, ban its activity, and liquidate it.' A decision by the Supreme Court in favor of this claim will have dire consequences for all of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. . ." Their properties throughout the state could be seized and "more than 170,000 Witnesses could be criminally prosecuted merely for worship, reading the Bible together, or talking to others about their faith." One Russian citizen said: "You people are God-fearing and show genuine love for your neighbor. I admire you people." Numerous comments have been made throughout the world by different individuals who disagree with this persecution by Russian officials against Jehovah's Witnesses.

On the website of Jehovah’s Witnesses entitled jw.org a press release stated, “The previous record for the largest searches in one day was on February 10, 2020, when the authorities raided 50 Witness homes in the Transbaikal Territory. Since 2017 Supreme Court ruling, over 1,000 homes of our brothers have been raided.” Bible prophecies continue to be fulfilled in regards to Jehovah God’s people as foretold in the Bible book of Daniel chapters 2 and 11which describes how some human governments would attack and persecute God’s people in the last days. These world powers are also revealed as wild beast in the book of Revelation chapters 13 and 16. To obtain a clearer understanding about the kings of the north and south and how they affect God’s people go to jw.org and read The Watchtower, February 2020 study articles 19 and 20.

Gun Violence Continues to Increase Through Acts of Hatred

The events in #San Bernardino, California where fourteen were killed and seventeen wounded now has been decided by the FBI, "we are now investigating attacks as an 'act of terrorism.'" Isha Sesay of #CNN stated, "Records show that mass shootings occur more than once a day. Three Hundred and fifty-three in the U.S. this year. In two hundred and twenty cities and forty-seven states, four hundred and sixty-two were killed in the U.S. and one thousand three hundred and fourteen were wounded." Some physicians that offered care for these patients acknowledge that we should, "Look at #gun violence as a public health issue."

News commentators and individuals ask the question, "Why are these things happening?" a twenty-seven-year-old woman named Vera explained these events this way, "They want to blame it on anything but that it is the last days. Just accept it. We are living in critical times just as the Bible foretold at 2 Timothy 3:1-3." Those verses express, "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without the love of goodness, . . ." One woman who did not want to be identified said, "Sounds like the practices of a lot of man-made religions today that are clearly based on the devil and his demons who care only about themselves. Look! Either reorganize your religious beliefs are not based on the truth and admit that you are following the devil and his demons. It is sad that we can't just speak the truth about what is really going on as true Christians."

Acts of Hatred That Effect Our World Today

Seeds of such things as prejudices originate from ignorance. Not having an understanding of a person or their background. Arrogance can then set in and cause you not to even desire to know the person you hate. The less you know about them, the easier it is for you to dislike to the extreme measure which is the origin of hatred.

Is there a growing trend to hate police officers and is this justifiable? Paul Callan appeared on #Live CNN Newsroom and stated, "It is like an epidemic of bad behavior by police officers." Police officers have now become suspects in such cases as #Michael Brown, Walter Scott and recently #Freddie Gray along with numerous others, who have been killed while in police custody. President Obama expressed his concerns about a Ferguson report where Michael Brown was killed by a police officer, "I don't think it is typical where departments do not have the training where they are protecting all people and not just some." Edward Bryant, President of the #NAACP explained, "The voice of minorities has not been listened to. We have complained about this situation. Our feelings have not been included and now we have the mistrust between police and the black community."

Doctor Ben Carson, author of #One Nation stated, concerning the shooting of Walter Scott by a police officer in South Carolina, "I was aghast looking at something like that. It really does not matter about the color. It was the use of power and position. It was an execution." Carson went on to explain, "We should not demonize each other. There are problems on both sides and the only way we can solve these problems is an investigation which is the only way to solve these problems."

The point Dr. Ben Carson made earlier may be more relevant than we know concerning the issue of power and position abuse. Are we at fault because we have made gods of police officers through television and movie dramas? When I googled police officer television programs, hundred were listed. "Dramas involving Police procedural work, and private detectives, secret agents, and the justice system have been a mainstay of broadcast television since the early days of broadcasting. Such programs as The Academy, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Blue Bloods, Charlie's Angels, Cops, The Fugitive, Hawaii Five-O, Law and Order, The X-Files." The list goes on and on. When we act as viewers of these dramas, within our minds are we making these roles of police officers godlike? If we are, does that give unimaginable real life power and position to police officers because they are viewed as godlike? This is something we truly must consider.

Abuse of Hatred on College Campuses

Growing calls to change the #Greed system on college campuses have become evident. On #CNN Live, Andrew Lohse stated, "SAE, is considered to be the most deadly frat in America through hazing and alcoholic raping." Fraternities such as #SAE were expelled from an Oklahoma University campus due to racist taunts on a tour bus. The escalated words of hatred concerning the lynching of people of a certain race was sad and filled with pure ignorance. What are we teaching our children, who are supposed to represent a source of intellect based on their pursuit of an education on a university level?

Love Is the Answer to Hatred and Racism

The feeling that you are better than another person whether it is pride in culture, race, country or the group you belong to. Superior feelings cause little if any love to develop. If you think of yourself to be better than others, there is little room for consideration or love. The feeling of superiority is expressed through our #political leaders constantly. This, in turn, causes partisan politics which affects the decisions of these political leaders. Recently, Governor Terry McAuliffe stated on #Live CNN during an interview, "Partisan politics have got to stop." Every taxpaying citizen agrees with this statement wholeheartedly. Imagine living by the standards of the Bible where others should be considered superior to you. To accomplish this state of utopia, love would truly have to be the foundation of your heart and reasoning.

#British Prime Minister Theresa May made a very powerful statement against hatred, evil and terrorism: "May we all move forward together. Never give in to terror and never allow the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart." One way we can accomplish this is to individually study God's word the Bible and apply and then demonstrate love toward each other. Leviticus 19:18 states: "You must not take vengeance nor hold a grudge against the sons of your people, and you must #love your fellow man as yourself. I am Jehovah." (#New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)

The Scofield Reference Bible explains the importance of love as opposed to hatred. "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:8) Humans are created in the image of God, therefore to demonstrate love rather than hatred should be as normal as breathing. We make it difficult or impossible when we focus on the negative rather than the positive. We must learn to put our trust and faith in Jehovah God and think positive as much as possible. When we do this, we can eliminate hatred and practice love which is normal for humans to express rather than hatred. When we do this, not only do we feel better about ourselves but also the world around us. Thinking positive and demonstrating love can and will eliminate hatred. For more information about how to eliminate hatred in order to demonstrate love, go to www.jw.org