Anger != Hate

[dangerpudding]

I've been seeing two words used in a way that is a lot closer to interchangeable than they actually are. I think this is a pretty huge problem, because it's leading to a wide-spread disagreement among people who are essentially on the same side of a problem

Comments

[mysterix]

I think of anger in these terms...a (decent) parent may get very, very angry with their child for lying, misbehaving, getting in legal trouble, hitting a playmate, cheating on a test, starting to smoke/drink/drug, etc. That same parent would never hate their child for all the money on earth.

For me, hatred implies a deeper, personal wrong, such as a far-reaching betrayal of trust that I cannot forgive. It can also be applied to a person/group/entity not personally connected to me that bases its existence on principles so appauling to my moral code that there can be no middle ground. (Groups which advocate genocide or slavery as a key tenet, for example).

As for your anger, you have every right to feel it, express it, and act on inspiration of that anger to whatever degree that falls short of impeding another's rights (not that I believe for a second you'd ever trample rights).

Sadly, too many people in this, and every, battle seem to think they are blessed with some divine privilege to dictate the rights of others. I wonder if we humans will ever evolve beyond that arrogance.

[dangerpudding]

Thank you for this response. You make some great points (and I've had others mention that to me as well) in a very useful way. :)