Hate and Other Groups

Lost amidst the political news of the past couple of weeks - the never-ending Republican primaries, Rush Limbaugh's loss of advertisers, the Republicans ridiculous and fact-free blame game on rising gas prices, the contradictory general election polling numbers that reverse direction weekly - was a sobering report from the Southern Poverty Law Center.  Per their website, the SPLC "monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout the United States and exposes their activities to law enforcement agencies, the media and the public." 

The number of active hate groups identified by SPLC in 2011 rose slightly to 1018, continuing a decade-long trend.  But what was really eye-catching was what the SPLC called the "stunning" incease in the number of so-called "Patriot" and militia-type anti-government groups.  Since the wrath of these groups is directed towards the government and not towards an ethnic, racial, religious or other minority group, SPLC does not list these as hate groups per se but gives them  a separate category.  Now here's the math: in 2008 there were 149 of these groups; in 2011 there were 1274.  Hmm, I wonder what caused the rise in these groups...well, they may or may not be haters but they sure don't like somebody.  

I wonder if the motorcycle rider that I encountered on the highway just after Obama's election became a member of one of these groups.  I was driving home from work when a leather-jacketed, bearded, sunglassed rider raced up to the side of my car.  He apparently noticed my "Obama '08" bumper sticker.  At first I thought he wanted to share the moment of hope that all the rest of the world was feeling with the ouster of the Republicans and with the end of the era of "W" and the neocons.  I gave him a thumbs up when he pointed at my car. But then he started gesticulating, waving his fist, screaming something - all at 65 mph on a motorcycle.  He was positively nuts - whether with anger or hate I don't know.   Fortunately, he didn't lose control of his bike and when he realized I wasn't going to continue our "discussion", he roared off towards the setting sun. 

And maybe that setting sun is an apt anlaogy for what is happening demographically in this country.  The time of total white male ascendancy is over.  That is a frightening thought to many.  Sure there are desperate attempts to retain power - witness the organized attack on voting rights, to exclude immigrants from the American dream - witness the draconian anti-immigrant laws, and to deny that the US can possibly have a President who is not white - witness the "birthers".  But the trend towards an increasingly diverse American society is clear and inevitable.

The sad part about the SPLC report is that we don't have to be so divisive and fearful.  We don't have to sink into the "us vs. them" sewer that's been a prime cause of humanity's problems for millenia.  I obviously wasn't there but I get the impression that during the Depression, people pulled for one another and understood that they were all in it together.  Maybe we can get back to that spirit of common humanity and decency in the midst of difficult times.

Here's a link to Obama's speech on election night 2008.  Like I said it was a time of hope.  Listen to the first 5 minutes or so of the speech and ask yourself "what did this guy ever do to engender such rabid opposition?"  I'll close with two excerpts from the speech..

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

"It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

We should all be able to live with these sentiments.