Hate Crimes

When I heard about our latest national tragedy, the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, I experienced a variety of emotions. I experienced sadness, anger, dejection, and vexation just to name a few. It makes my heart heavy to know that there are people out there with so much hate in their hearts that they feel the need to commit such horrendous acts. I've always known that there are sick people out there, but that knowledge can never truly prepare me for instances such as this most recent incident. I just don't understand it, and I think that's a good thing. The fact that I can't comprehend the mindset of someone so disturbed tells me that there is simply a fundamental difference in how my heart and mind are wired, and how those of the perpetrator are. I think that when it comes to people who commit hate crimes, there are two things that make them the way that they are. First, there is some component, either missing or present, in their hearts that allow them to become so cold and heartless. That component makes them different from the vast majority of society. Second, I believe that they have experienced events in their lives that, because of the way they're wired, they have interpreted as justification of their actions. Whether that be being slighted by someone of the group that they've grown to hate, or simply being indoctrinated from a young age by equally disturbed individuals to feel the way that they do with little to no reason at all. I don't believe we can ever truly be prepared for hate crimes, I don't believe that they will never shake us to our core when they are perpetrated, and I don't believe that those in the affected community will ever completely heal. However, that's not to say that there's nothing we can do to prevent hate crimes. I believe that the strongest way to combat hate is to spread knowledge and love. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true. If people aren't allowed to fester in ignorance, if they aren't allowed to be indoctrinated into toxic ideologies, and if they are shown that the people they may be starting to resent are decent human beings, they can be swayed from going down such a dark path. Hate, unfortunately, will always exist, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do anything and everything in our power to prevent horrendous acts of hatred from occurring in the future.