Hate’s Unfortunate Effects on Society
Lately, my thoughts have been gravitating with persistent alarm to the culture of hate that continues to blossom further and further in America. This terrible mindset steadily creeps along, extending at a rapid pace from the margins of society into the mainstream. Since right-wing extremists have gained control of the House of Representatives, multiple facets of intolerance loom with greater prominence now, overshadowing all of the progress that’s been made in the last two years to establish a fairer society.
Additionally, the rise of fascist impulses in certain states has also demonstrated complete disrepect to the rich diversity of cultures and ideas, which consistently define the greatest attribute of this country. As a result of such abusive behavior, the constant tinge of hate, where rights are gleefully discarded without any concern for their importance to actual lives, gains in its strength.
Naturally, little can be done by voters to correct the free-falling disregard for ethical leadership that exists in one of the nation’s two major political parties at this moment. The midterms are over. And while the current administration’s party fared much better than expected, we must still endure the dreadful aftereffects that are in development within the House. With its agenda, consisting of cruel objectives and distorted, deliberately misinformed investigations that amount to a clownish grievance fest, the extremists who are in control have power for the time being.
Despite this unfortunate reality, I believe we still have the capacity to counter that ugliness, the focus on prejudices rather than policies that make a positive difference in people’s lives, even in the smallest of ways. Hopeful signs are currently evolving in favorable glimpses, which is wonderful to see, gradually revealing the rejection of unwarranted bigotry and inhumanity. But I’d like to see more ferocity in this essential resistance. Otherwise, such horrible fractures, the logical repercussions of mistreatment’s transformation into numbness, pushes us to escape to our own private spaces for comfort and safety, where we’re only separated from each other even further.
Although the vast majority of Americans do not believe in attacking minority populations, seizing rights away from the vulnerable, elevating one religious ideology above all others, and banning viewpoints that legitimately criticize the nation’s history, such behavior does have a negative impact. It causes an automatic disengagement as a form of protection against the dangers posed by such relentless hostility. In addition, this mindset contributes to an overall culture of intolerance, which directly affects the way that we connect with each other. As a result, that unspoken trust, the inherent desire to be ourselves in public spaces without fear of a hateful response, is inevitably damaged, generating a tragic wariness that serves to keep us much too far apart.
That guarded sense feels as if it’s always hovering now without enough relief in sight. Therefore, an invisible wedge remains that reduces our comfort with each other and promotes incredible isolation, only making daily life lonelier than ever before. I see that consequence as one of the greatest tragedies of this endless cycle which propels hate forward, one that worsens over time. The fear of becoming a target based on irrational hatefulness necessitates such withdrawal and makes life, already so challenging in multiple, complicated ways, even more of a difficult experience.
The multi-faceted complexities of this topic are a continuous thread in my own writing. I constantly return to the notion of navigating a coldly fragmented world, exploring an often distressing landscape that desensitizes us from feeling empathy in favor of self-preservation. It’s a subject that draws me because of the extensive fear that I feel as I witness an embattled political system, where hatefulness emerges all too frequently to cause lethal harm, even when opposed.
Yet I do so hopeful signs. An increasing unwillingness to accept this continuous threat against those who don’t subscribe to right-wing beliefs is rising above the surface. Recent lawsuits that divulge dangerous lies about extremist behavior from certain propaganda outlets, assertive objections to House hearings that openly distort facts to cater to treacherous perspectives, and the latest developments in criminal cases to hold former politicians who normalized hate accountable for their actions all signal defiance against authoritarian cruelty. To me, this means that we can overcome the constant intolerance that has intensively plagued our country over these last few years.
These positive indications are important to recognize. But I’ll still remain watchful, continually observing the world around me with attentive caution. Although hateful attitudes will never fully dissolve, existing as an indisputable undercurrent within our cultural fabric, they should not be rewarded. Instead, we need to strive to include, to welcome and embrace the wondrous diversity that enriches each of us while also fostering shared communities. In this way, we can transcend the terrible effects of hate, actively choosing to reject its inherent inhumanity for a society that values our differences. That’s the kind of world I’d love to see and I’ll always hope that we can achieve this ideal that benefits us all.
For more information about me as well as my work, please visit my website https://alisaburris.com. You can also connect with me on various social media platforms. Thank you for reading!
