Why hate happens

Why is there hate? Maybe it’s because whites feel threatened by Blacks. Or Blacks feel threatened by Hispanics, and Asians are threatened by whites, Blacks, and Hispanics.

Maybe it has something to do with Christians feeling uncomfortable about Jews, who feel uneasy around Islamic worshipers, who feel similarly about Hindus, who share that about Buddhists, who altogether shudder about those who are non-believers or agnostics.

Maybe it arises from men who are threatened somehow by women, or children who are threatened by parents, grandparents, and other parental figures.

Maybe it’s because students feel cornered by teachers, role models possibly feel unduly challenged by mentees, or independent-thinking kids fear educators in general.

Then maybe it’s because thinkers are threatened by the under-educated, the knowledgeable fear those who don’t bother to study, or the “I feelers” outshout those who do their research, leaving voids.

But more importantly, hate may occur largely because people simply don’t listen to each other. They scream what they think they know without trying to understand what it is they don’t know.

If we’d only just acknowledge that we as a people are more alike than we are different, then we’d discover the jewels and talents we can all contribute for the betterment of our community, nation, and world.

But then, again, maybe that falls under the category of “too much common sense.” Dad always told me, “It is smart to possess and use common sense—just don’t flaunt it.” Oops!

TYLER THOMPSON Little Rock