Hate is a powerful force and it can be destructive if not understood and resolved. This is becoming increasingly apparent on a national level where groups became more coordinated. Because of events that have happened to me and my family over the past few years I've come to think more deeply about my personal responsibilities to stand up against such behaviors for my family, community and I guess in some ways for my nation (Most of our politicians are almost completely unsure on how to tackle this issue. They just interpret things from a political standpoint but sometimes forget the bigger purpose of the nation.)
For now I'm going to continue to write about these issues until there is accountability and/or resolution to the risks caused by bad behaviors. Perhaps with luck that will lead to greater insight for other stakeholders that may want to reach for a higher state of personal development. While I still hope for win-win outcomes I cannot look the other way on these behaviors simply because its "convenient" or that somehow it will upset the local social "apple cart" (Its seems like its almost always the half insiders and half outsiders that sort of see dysfunctions, corruption, unethical behaviors first. Likely has something to do with perspective. Its not everyone...but it only takes a few.). The behaviors stepped beyond the bounds of "normal".
As you know, my family was the target of a larger group of hate based supporters. I don't want people to assume that everyone within this mediocre ex sports group has a problem or is a problem. The vast majority of members are good natured and are more passive social supporters than active hate promoters. That also doesn't neglect the social environment where certain behaviors were seen as "acceptable" (I guess as long as it isn't them or their children.)
Here are a couple of precursors to why and how certain hate behaviors occur:
1.) Mental health issues of the perpetrators that haven't been dealt with because of the culture with their family and social group where problems are ignored or drank away (They don't think any of themselves can have mental health issues even though there are significant biological, historical and psychological markers. Furthermore, there is circumvention of self awareness by belittling others, lying, and projecting as tools to avoid dealing with those underlining issues.)
2.) Surrounded by immature and underdeveloped friend network that constantly seeks their social group's approvals and in turn pushing them ever inward (cultish) in their orientation. They will believe almost anything as long as it comes from a person within their group that holds a level of social influence (Based on old highschool social structures that most adults have shed a few years after graduation.). Some of the members have preexisting bias issues (...there are lots of exceptions here.) that includes use of inappropriate terms and inaccurate comparisons to others. ....like dry kindling wood just waiting for someone to throw a well placed match.
3. High incentives for financial gain. By engaging directly in hate based behaviors the perpetrators could realize financial gain. It looks in some ways looks like an attempt to hide prior bad behavior as it relates to embezzlement and acts as a method of creating distance between themselves and the victims concerns (adding rewards to bad behaviors increases their likelihood they will be repeated.). The aggression also helps shield them from accountability by creating context for their bad behavior (They scapegoated in an environment that seemed to have a nodding approval. I doubt this would have happened if they wouldn't have exploited racial and religious differences. Just saying! 💁).
4. Close connections (dating, same social group, etc..) with key law enforcement members were/was/is potentially exploited to gain legal protection and justification for behaviors that were knowingly inappropriate. One of those officers was involved in coordinated harassment/stalking behaviors in this and reported to be engaged in similar behaviors in other incidents that include prior community incidents/complaints of misconduct, restricting help to injured car victims, concerns of sexual assault/rape, and likely many other uninvestigated red flags (Employment records, prior complaints and other indicators should be reviewed carefully). It would appear the group expected to be given a "free pass" (An indication that the local law system can be manipulated).
The Long Term Dangers:
When society doesn't follow the rules it professes publicly and makes one (or many) demographic(s) of people (whether it be Black, Jew, Muslim, Asian, White, etc...) more or less accountable than others on a systemic level it has set up a pseudo caste system. Even worse, when issues are brought up about the inappropriateness of that system they are often discarded as rhetoric and politically trampled. Investigating hate crimes and universalizing the application of our laws encourages single society with rules that apply to everyone. We should reach for the better then further justify what is isn't working.
I get it! My family and I could be easily discarded in favor of not upsetting the "status que" of local life or the social networks that bred that disfunction in the first place. Furthermore, I understand the political interest and the various opinions on who should and should be held to account (Most just guess based on their prexisting assumptions.). Uncovering and hiding the embedded dysfunctional networks (i.e. what could be long developed patterns of corruption) is not of interest to some and of exceedingly high interest to others. Its a matter of practicality to me so that my and other people's kids (and adults) don't have to keep dealing with others failures to tackle these fundamental issues.
I'm trying to isolate out those political and social biases to see win-win situations where they appear most appropriate. We can apply universal laws in this situation to ensure the law gives equal weight to the factors involved. We can get those who sparked this problem into mental health care so they can deal with their issues (a long term risk if we don't solve the root problem or ensure we are setting a social standard of behavior). Furthermore, we can strengthen local law enforcement effectiveness by understanding what happened and engage in a process of self reflection and improvement (That looks pretty win-win to me! However, I've never really been considered one who thinks in the same way as others. Sometimes that is great and sometimes not so great! Hopefully were not discounting what the targets say simply because people are supporting their own ethnic social groups. You would think we should listen to everyone 🙊).
The risks for my family hit home a little harder. For the near and mid term we still maintain similar (maybe slightly less) risks as when we were in the "mix" of unfolding events. Whether it be one of the officers involved/sympathetic, a "local" hate group supporter, or just some disgruntled "loose cannon"/"lone wolf" who had just one too many beers 🍻! We run the risk of being the easy scapegoats for others failures and feelings of inadequacies.
Those risks become more heightened if social networks create "juicy" details to share among their social group. Its not as though they are going to check factuality of the information when the goal is to be "liked" by their friends more then it is to think for themselves. I'm not sure if they are aware of this but they act as an unofficial propaganda machine that can continue "poisoning the well" through spreading misinformation (In most civilized societies, we would call this defamation of character and would recognizing it as a tool of devaluing, dehumanizing, and creating pressures. I can only imagine the "boogie man" things being said and how many believe these "facts". 😲😯🙉🙊)
Once the kindling has been lit and a group of supporters come out to throw gasoline on the fire there really isn't much to do but watch and be diligent as our value systems are torched into dust. For some its politics....for others....their lives can depend on everyone else having a "moral conscious"; a risk I can't afford to take. We seem to be struggling with understanding the nature of hate and tackling it on the local level to ensure our national legacy stays strong. The saga continues on...........hopefully our national leaders can think beyond today and toward a greater principle that holds society together. We as a nation must cling closely to the rope that has held each generation on the same historical line back to the beginning. Some of our leadership may have been elected but struggle with the greater purpose of the nation (Not race, religion, or party specific). In the world of hate passivity, social support and the "blind eye" are moral hazards that lead to future bigger problems. As a nation it will be something we have to handle for peace, tranquility and our competitive futures. Hope it all turns out well like many of my fellow Americans who are hoping for a helpful resolution. We rely on others to make the "right" decisions. Speaking up, out, and against hate carries with it serious risk of backlash for victims/targets beyond being designated as the scapegoat. I think our nation is worth it! Some of us still believe. 🙏 What do you believe?
As a side note for people who don't know me that well. I'm a conservative and very much against hate and bigotry in our country. In one form or another I have always been against it and have spent enough time with different peoples to different places to know that its not race or religion specific. Its often power, race and religion oriented but that is highly dependent on the location and the dynamics of local power (Watch world affairs long enough and you will get the picture).. To our advantage, as a nation we still live by principles that tie us together and make us strong (We must and its the only logical path forward. Everything else ends in disaster. Think long and hard about the options available and where they end.). The moment people, groups, national and local leadership, stop striving for those ideals is the minute our future slips like sand between our fingertips. We currently face growing international pressures and threats and now is not time to give voice to those which divides us. I'm proud to be White, proud to have Black kids and am free to learn/practice any religion I/we see fit....at least for now!
