VIOLENCE: Separate fear, hatred

There is an important difference between hate and fear. As an equal opportunity chicken, I fear all violent people regardless of race, culture, religion, class or sexuality, and employ all due caution whenever my suspicions are aroused.

On the other hand I do not hate any of these people. Their violent behavior is usually a result of negative factors in their lives. These souls must often be removed from society to protect it, for which I thank our police. Nevertheless, hating them accomplishes nothing. While caution can be useful in survival, hatred is merely the voluntary abandonment of inner peace.

Racial supremacy movements are motivated by both hatred and fear. Genetic superiority is not a factor. Thus, supremacists are not truly supreme. The apparent supremacy of various cultures throughout history has generally resulted from geographical advantage and “Guns, Germs and Steel,” a great book for those of us afflicted with delusions of supremacy.

Another pathway to reality for white supremacists might be contemplation of the immigration difficulties experienced by Native Americans 200 years ago.

LARRY FREI

Coeur d’Alene