Condemning hate
Anti-Semitism is known as the oldest type of hatethe most convenient one. For centuries, it allowed many societies to channel frustrations and responsibility, turning a religion’s faithful into scapegoats for all the wrongs under the sun.
The deadly attack by supremacist Frazier Glenn Miller at a Jewish community center and retirement home in Kansas is a contemporary expression of that ancient hate. Fortunately, the case or an armed supremacist fanatic who admires Hitler is not common in the U.S.; unfortunately, there are still too many people like that in our country.
Ignorance and fear are two elements that lead to being afraid and in turn attacking and destroying everything that is different. Whether the differences are in skin color, ethnicity, language or religion, foreigners are seen with suspicion and natives who have been part of a society for generations are perceived as if they do not belong.
Ironically, Miller, who literally went to hunt Jews, ended up murdering Christians. Apparently, in his sick, segregationist mind, today’s religious integration is incomprehensible. Hate has a misguided logic that leads to the most unexpected, and also tragic, endings.
Anti-Semitism is hatred that spreads without borders, with no more justification than racism and discrimination of all sorts. It is driven by the same ignorance and fear that motivate those who are anti-immigrant. They do not kill with weapons; however, they create hateful divisions whose goal is to exacerbate social fears against immigrants, resulting in many being horribly beaten up because their skin is darker and they speak with an accent.
The incident in Kansas is an attack on society, an assault against a community that goes way beyond the Jewish religion to the differences, those that enrich all of us. That is why we should declare our solidarity and condemn this act of hatred so it does not happen in a temple, a mosque, a church or a center for immigrants.
