TemplarKormac
Political Atheist
The following excerpt came from a page in an X-Men comic. Powerful lessons can be learned by reading works of fiction. In this case, sometimes a relatively harmless joke can turn into a terrifying reality, not just for other people, but for you too. Yes, a joke made out of spite can lead to unintended consequences, consequences one never even imagined possible. A lack of understanding leads to a cultivation of hatred. Hatred is indiscriminate. It is adaptive. It doesn't care who suffers because of it, nor does it care who it will scar for life.
I wish some of you would think about that before you sling your hatred at someone because of their politics. Hatred is dangerous, and it is rarely justified. If you want to hate someone or something, know what you're hating, educate yourself about whom or what you are hating. Don't hate someone simply because someone tells you that person or thing should be hated.
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It always begins as a joke. Listen to me, both of you. One sees a father or mother of whom they do not approve, and their brats won't shut up, and the parents are so exhausted that they just let their children scream. All sticky and crying and hitting and wild. And you say to your friends, "You should pass a test to breed." Do you understand? "You should have to get licensed to have kids."
It starts as a joke. Then perhaps there is a tragedy. A postpartum mother who should've gotten help, but her insurance didn't cover the therapy. A father who erred, because he was raised believing men are pathetic if they are caregivers. The first tests are drafted. Then you think, "Good." You think, "Those children will be safe now."
The test comes out, and yes, there're some problems, but nothing that cannot be ironed out, yes? But now, anyone with mental illness, with a criminal record, is barred from becoming a parent. And you think, "Well, that is sensible, yes?"
Because you've never known anyone like that, so who is to tell you they are not like they are portrayed in stories? Sick, dangerous, criminal-- these words expand. Suddenly it is anyone with diabetes, anyone with cancer, because they could die and leave their children orphaned, so how dare they ever try to have children? It is deaf couples, disabled couples, interracial couples, gay couples-- because don't they know how hard they're making it for their children?
Then it is whoever they want. You think you are working for the greater good. You can't even fathom the life of someone who isn't exactly like you. Then one day-- it is you. Some gene, some history, some past behavior-- suddenly you are too sick, dangerous, criminal. Because the truth is this-- human hate can adapt to anything.
You think you are safe. But if someone hates you, they will come up with the reason after the fact. Only then do you realize what you put in power. Only then do you realize what you stripped away. There is terrible power in a joke, in a story, in taking the truth and making it ugly. Do you understand, children?
I wish some of you would think about that before you sling your hatred at someone because of their politics. Hatred is dangerous, and it is rarely justified. If you want to hate someone or something, know what you're hating, educate yourself about whom or what you are hating. Don't hate someone simply because someone tells you that person or thing should be hated.
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It always begins as a joke. Listen to me, both of you. One sees a father or mother of whom they do not approve, and their brats won't shut up, and the parents are so exhausted that they just let their children scream. All sticky and crying and hitting and wild. And you say to your friends, "You should pass a test to breed." Do you understand? "You should have to get licensed to have kids."
It starts as a joke. Then perhaps there is a tragedy. A postpartum mother who should've gotten help, but her insurance didn't cover the therapy. A father who erred, because he was raised believing men are pathetic if they are caregivers. The first tests are drafted. Then you think, "Good." You think, "Those children will be safe now."
The test comes out, and yes, there're some problems, but nothing that cannot be ironed out, yes? But now, anyone with mental illness, with a criminal record, is barred from becoming a parent. And you think, "Well, that is sensible, yes?"
Because you've never known anyone like that, so who is to tell you they are not like they are portrayed in stories? Sick, dangerous, criminal-- these words expand. Suddenly it is anyone with diabetes, anyone with cancer, because they could die and leave their children orphaned, so how dare they ever try to have children? It is deaf couples, disabled couples, interracial couples, gay couples-- because don't they know how hard they're making it for their children?
Then it is whoever they want. You think you are working for the greater good. You can't even fathom the life of someone who isn't exactly like you. Then one day-- it is you. Some gene, some history, some past behavior-- suddenly you are too sick, dangerous, criminal. Because the truth is this-- human hate can adapt to anything.
You think you are safe. But if someone hates you, they will come up with the reason after the fact. Only then do you realize what you put in power. Only then do you realize what you stripped away. There is terrible power in a joke, in a story, in taking the truth and making it ugly. Do you understand, children?
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