Why the hatred? Why the fear?

A lot of people are talking about the various hate groups and are much more able to articulate the racism, hated, intolerance these groups stand for and how to counter them.  For a long time I keep reading and hearing to 'hold back, wait, don't say anything as it will get better'.  Well it has not gotten better, we are seeing more and more of those who spout hatred, commit murder, exhibit racism of the worst type and use fear to try to intimidate people into standing by and be quiet and accept their message of hatred.  Well guess what?  I am tired of holding my tongue (and keyboard) and I will be starting to speak out.  I suspect there will be a few who empathize with the hatred and will either 'unfriend' me or spout even more hatred in the hope that I will shut up and be quiet.  For those who 'unfriend' that is OK, you have a right to your opinion and I am sorry that my beliefs in tolerance, love, and respect somehow threatens you.  For those who try to shout me down or intimidate me, go ahead and try, you may silence one messenger, but, the message will still go out from others.


Growing up my parents and family taught us to:

• Do unto others as you would want done to yourself. 
• Treat everyone with respect and courtesy.
• To speak out when I see something wrong.
• To help those who need help.
• To listen first, then ask 'how can I help?'.
• Recognize and acknowledge that I am imperfect, but, to keep striving to be better and not make the same mistake twice.
• Not to hate those who hate, but, to hate what they stand for.
• Not to judge a person by their religion, language, skin colour, nationality or sexual orientation, but, to judge them by how they treat themselves and others.

Seeing the problems south of the border by neo-nazis, KKK and other racist domestic terrorist groups (that is what they are, domestic terrorists) and stop using that sanitized term 'alt-right'.  Domestic terrorists is an ugly term and it should be applied to the ugly beliefs that neo-nazis and the KKK are trying to make us believe, that somehow being white is better, being white is being oppressed, being a 'white Christian' somehow makes you better without truly understanding what it is to be Christian and the work involved to be a true Christian. 

As a society here in Canada we unfortunately do have those who preach the gospel of hatred, fear, violence, intolerance and racial supremacy that we see happening south of the border.  As a society we need to acknowledge that and to address it head on with love, tolerance, learning and respect. 

I was reading online about one of the groups in Quebec and that they say they are not 'racist', just against Islam.  Well if that isn't racism I don't know what is.  For the ones who were 'protesting' in Quebec, why are you hiding your faces?  Could it be you don't feel 'pride' in what you believe in?  You don't want it known that you are racist, bigoted, small minded?  You were trying to avoid taking responsibility for your violence?  Another person expressed that they were not happy eating halal, well if you don't like halal food don't eat it.  Quick explanation from a Christian reading up on what is Halal (and I may be wrong or over simplifying)... It is what is permissible for their diet.  Nothing fancy, just a set of rules defining what they consider 'permissible' to eat, how it is prepared and for meat what type it is and how it is slaughtered.  From what I read I don't have a problem with halal, it is just a set of rules for their diet.

Update 2020-06-07

Almost three years and it has gotten worse.   South of the border POTUS is acting nore and more as a dictator. Someone who who can say anything, do anything and those in power apologize, rationize or downplay his words, actions and inactions.