MY TURN: Revisiting sending hate mongers packing

After reading “Opinion: Idaho must once again send the hate mongers packing” as offered by Jim Jones and published in the Friday, Dec. 2 Coeur d'Alene Press, I offer this commentary.

Mr. Jones identified hate mongers as “white race” people, extreme conservatives, white nationalists, right-wing Christians, white supremacists, extremists and more. I believe that’s only possible when one creates their own definitions for, or twists given definitions and persuasion of such individuals and groups. So, on what basis did Mr. Jones categorize his group of “hate mongers” and why did he do that? I’ve known a lot of people in my 43 years as an Idahoan and none of them have been or are hate mongers.

Mr. Jones also used “buzzwords” to enhance his description of hate mongers. A buzzword is an important-sounding adjective or phrases often of little meaning used chiefly to impress readers and, in this case, embellish the nature of a “hate monger.” What was accomplished by doing this and could it be classified as deception?

Mr. Jones emphasized that “hate” is bad. But based on a common definition of hate — a strong or intense feeling of dislike requiring action — is it appropriate to hate such acts and things as sex and drug trafficking, crime, corruption and deception as well as lying, cheating, stealing and the like? I believe so. Do you? Even God identified 14 different things that He hates as contained in the Book of Proverbs. Does that make God a hate monger? Anyone that truly knows God and is a follower of Jesus knows that isn’t true. Just examine what God says about Love in Chapter 13 of the Book of 1 Corinthians in the Bible and in John 13:34 and Mark 12:31.

Mr. Jones appeared to embrace “truth” (lower case) as he sees it. In this regard, everyone has their opinion about truth; so whose opinion is right and whose is wrong? Dr. Jeff Myers’s 2022 book titled “TRUTH CHANGES EVERYTHING” offers an excellent discussion of “truth” (lower case) and “Truth (upper case). I encourage readers to examine his presentation and decide “truth” and “Truth” for yourselves.

Mr. Jones has every right to express his opinion/views on the topic of hate and I support that right. However, I believe Mr. Jones did a lot of finger pointing and offered his personal opinion on the matter of hate and hate mongers. I’ve raised a lot of questions about his opinion and I believe you, as readers, should address them and answer them. In this regard, Wayne Dwyer had an excellent quote, “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Please exercise your duty and responsibility to examine and confront legitimate “hate.”

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Bob Whitehead is a Post Falls resident.