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Martin Eden

(12,802 posts)
60. Is all hatred irrational, unhealthy, and counterproductive?
Fri Aug 9, 2013, 10:32 AM
Aug 2013

If someone or some group/organization intentionally with coordinated planning causes the deaths of thousands of innocent lives and great harm to our country, is hate not the natural and appropriate human emotion in this circumstance?

The administration of Bush/Cheney ignored dire warning of an impending terrorist attack on American soil, then exploited 9/11 to launch an unprovoked war against a nation that had nothing to do with it. The American people stood behind the president in the wake of a national tragedy, then he and his administration manipulated the public's fear, anger, and patriotism in a war of choice based on a pack of LIES. I think it is entirely accurate and fair to characterize this as the most egregious betrayal of public trust by a president in our nation's history.

More than 5000 American soldiers died, and perhaps a million Iraqis (sectarian violence & bombings continue today). Our treasury was drained while their cronies got rich(er). Bush entered office with a healthy economy and a budget surplus, and left it in shambles. His administration approved torture and other war crimes that brought shame upon our nation while he divisively proclaimed you're either with us or you're with the terrorists.

I hate them for what they did to the country I love, for all the innocent people they killed, and for all the people still suffering (physically, emotionally, economically) as a result of their premeditated crimes.

I hate that they have escaped justice and in fact enjoy wealth, privilege, and the honors that come with the prestige of their office.

I hate that We The People are becoming more and more accepting of this, and that I'm told to let it go already!

I will not let it go until justice is served.

Why? Because when crimes in high places go unpunished they receive tacit approval, and the probability of future crimes by our government in our name is greatly increased. If you don't care about what happens to these criminals, you should at least care about their victims and the next generation that will be victimized by the failure of the American people to insist that we live up to the principles our country ostensibly stands for.

Hatred need not be a blind, consuming, rage. Put in its proper place with clarity of thought and purpose, hate can provide sustained motivation. I am not the Tea Party. Facts, reason, and logic prevail. I would not Hate if I did not also Love the people and the principles which I believe are perpetually endangered while we let the horrible crimes of Bush/Cheney go unpunished and we become more and more accepting of it. Nothing to see here folks, move along!

No, sorry. Passion is required here. Suppression of rational human emotion for crimes against humanity is counterproductive. Real change is absolutely necessary.

I wish I could believe John Lennon. All You Need Is Love. We need that more than anything, to be sure. Our love must be stronger than our hate, and both governed by our rational mind. And I do say both.

I wouldn't apologize...(nice that you reached out to them) but, this is just KoKo Aug 2013 #1
At least when Bush was president, G_j Aug 2013 #5
We were Definitely Much More United then... KoKo Aug 2013 #9
our problems didn't start with Obama, Clinton, or either Bush. It started with Reagan. liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #13
it's been a long time since Reagan though and those of us who saw that KoKo Aug 2013 #25
I do remember, certainly the situation G_j Aug 2013 #16
"Hate" was certainly NEVER MY VALUE when I joined DU in 2001! KoKo Aug 2013 #34
Post removed Post removed Aug 2013 #2
Do you think joking about the assassination of President Obama is funny? Cali_Democrat Aug 2013 #4
Hopefully he gets a knock on the door for that shit. millennialmax Aug 2013 #11
He just got banned for that shit. Thanks, MIRT. freshwest Aug 2013 #31
Ive said some crap folks here havent cared for, but THAT is way over the line. 7962 Aug 2013 #37
Not surprised MIRT Tien1985 Aug 2013 #38
He had a thing about insulting those he didn't like as being in 'drag.' I didn't like that, myself. freshwest Aug 2013 #40
Little shit couldn't even make it a week. Number23 Aug 2013 #44
What's the meme? 'Better Believe It'? A particularly vicious example of the species. freshwest Aug 2013 #47
Pizza~ sheshe2 Aug 2013 #51
Gonna have Greek pizza tomorrow! freshwest Aug 2013 #52
I love that the SECOND post in this thread just completely disproved the ENTIRE thesis of this OP. Number23 Aug 2013 #45
The closest thing I have to hate is the contempt I have for the corporations that have taken over liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #3
The people calling us "haters" are trying to prove that we're on the right Hydra Aug 2013 #6
Agree...we can contort ourselves to try to counter the attack..BUT KoKo Aug 2013 #36
Hate, no. Disappointment, betrayal, and regret. PowerToThePeople Aug 2013 #7
There's a difference between not having a great deal of enthusiasm for hobbit709 Aug 2013 #8
When people try that "hater" nonsense Union Scribe Aug 2013 #10
President Obama made me a Democrat. eom millennialmax Aug 2013 #12
What were you before Obama? NorthCarolina Aug 2013 #23
One of those cynical 'both parties are the same' conspiracy theorists. millennialmax Aug 2013 #24
You should never be embarassed about being right though. NorthCarolina Aug 2013 #26
I never said that liberals = conspiracy theorists. millennialmax Aug 2013 #33
funny, it wasn't until Obama that I woke up to the fact that both parties are the same. liberal_at_heart Aug 2013 #46
Clinton ending welfare and exacerbating poverty while signing NAFTA to enrich corporations did it TransitJohn Aug 2013 #61
I was thinking the same thing. sulphurdunn Aug 2013 #73
For you, Millennialmax: freshwest Aug 2013 #55
George W. Bush made me a Democrat Capt. Obvious Aug 2013 #64
not fan of the guy myself. KG Aug 2013 #14
As Mike Malloy says,... Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #15
I know a couple of "left thinking" people nevergiveup Aug 2013 #17
I honestly don't see how a lefty could BE racist. RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #20
Yeah, I agree with you. PETRUS Aug 2013 #27
I'm an old FDR type liberal, LWolf Aug 2013 #22
I didn't say FDR type liberals nevergiveup Aug 2013 #42
Accepted. LWolf Aug 2013 #59
That's more than a little weird Hydra Aug 2013 #41
I know a few that are bitter that he won and not Hillary. Spitfire of ATJ Aug 2013 #69
Hit it on the head, Tiredofthesame Aug 2013 #74
FDR supporters maybe, but not FDR type. David__77 Aug 2013 #77
I don't hate him. RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #18
I don't heaven05 Aug 2013 #19
Thank you. nt LWolf Aug 2013 #21
Hate? 99Forever Aug 2013 #28
I don't think he's out of his depth, but the MIC is unfathomable. SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #32
If he can't take on and restore sanity to MIC spending... 99Forever Aug 2013 #35
Pluuuus one. Enthusiast Aug 2013 #57
Guess I'm a hater. I hate GOP policies leftstreet Aug 2013 #29
I hate Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, and all those who lied us into war . . . SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #30
Bush Jr wasn't the Architect Hydra Aug 2013 #43
I Hated him and his smirk for 8 years. But it didn't last, like the hatred for Cheney. SleeplessinSoCal Aug 2013 #49
Heck, I didn't even hate Bush until he went into Iraq. thesquanderer Aug 2013 #76
Hate of the President is disgusting DainBramaged Aug 2013 #39
I don't think I'm a Hater...and there are many sincere Democrats here who KoKo Aug 2013 #48
Me wuvs yu haz a cup of kitteh DainBramaged Aug 2013 #50
LOL! Enthusiast Aug 2013 #58
How 'bout a glass? DainBramaged Aug 2013 #62
Taking pictures of cute kittehs is a new and expanding profession. Enthusiast Aug 2013 #72
DB.. KoKo Aug 2013 #65
Always DainBramaged Aug 2013 #79
+1 freshwest Aug 2013 #54
They're going to accuse of us hate no matter what we do. nyquil_man Aug 2013 #53
You're right about Obama, of course. But not about the hating. DeSwiss Aug 2013 #56
Is all hatred irrational, unhealthy, and counterproductive? Martin Eden Aug 2013 #60
welcome to DU hfojvt Aug 2013 #63
I don't think anybody here hates Pres. Obama. Bake Aug 2013 #66
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Aug 2013 #67
only the swooners cannot grasp that Skittles Aug 2013 #68
Have him over for dinner zipplewrath Aug 2013 #70
Liberaldont hate obama azmesa207 Aug 2013 #71
Well said, and true for me too. Thanks. nt Zorra Aug 2013 #75
You think leftists didn't hate Bush? David__77 Aug 2013 #78
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