What To Do When You're Hated

[BigBearJohn]

Americans aren't used to being hated, and although we recognize with embarrassment the "ugly American" stereotype, we feel as if we should be loved and respected anyway. Yet here we are. The Muslim world is inflamed with hatred against us. It's a fact we must learn to deal with, yet so far one hears almost no discussion of what we should do psychologically.
The prevailing obsession with homeland security sidesteps the issue by making it a military and police matter. Actually, being hated is more complex than that.

We have reacted to being hated by returning the feeling. No one is more unpopular in the U.S. today than the stereotyped Islamic male screaming anti-American slogans on the Arab street. But for our own sake we must assume a higher standard; in fact, the only way to be loved is to exhibit kindness and love to our potential enemies. This is what morality, religion, and psychology all teach.

It asks too much for us to love our enemies, but we could come much closer than we do.

1. We don't have to hate someone simply because they hate us. Officially we don't hate Arabs, but this is something of a sham. Given the present air of contempt, condescension, and arrogance with which we treat even the Iraqis were are supposed to be saving, we have to face those feelings and at the very least try to resist them.

READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/what-to-do-when-youre-ha_b_16022.html?view=print

[f-bush]

1. I was born i n Germany and still have close relatives there...

they all think we are the most narrow, self centered assholes in the world right now, not to mention stupid. Why else would this country vote for shrub and let his band of theiving assholes get away with all the stuff they have done?

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

2. I just received some bumperstickers that say Don't blame me,

I voted for Kerry.

[TahitiNut]

3. KSOTO

Keen Sense Of The Obvious :shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Tell them Gore won and Kerry won. Tell them the truth. n/t

[patrice]

6. Everything about this phase of "it" comes from 2000.

Things would be Extremely different if . . . .

[f-bush]

8. I do tell them that, but then they see the citizens of our country

become apathetic and feel that we deserve what we settle for.

[BigBearJohn]

7. Simple: Laziness. "Let the other guy do it" I'll sit and watch.

[patrice]

5. We create this stuff with our minds.

Not absolutely All of it, but Much, definitely mental: ignorance, fear, anger, uncertainty . . . .