"Tolerance Watch"

[wednes]

Map of "Hate Groups" in Michigan.

I found this interesting for several reasons. I'm not entirely sure that separatists are neccesarily "hate groups". I also have to wonder if religious themed groups can be considered "hate groups" as well. But if they are, where does that leave publications like Credo which actively speak out against Wiccans and Pagans.

Mind you, I'm not bashing Christians, Catholics or their methods. What I'm asking is: What makes something a "hate group"? And what is the difference between wanting to separate or isolate yourself from a group and being hateful?

I know the old addage is that the right to swing ones fist ends where the other man's nose begins. In my youth I felt I had an exceptional baraometer for determining right vs wrong in political and social issues. The older I get, the more difficult it becomes to choose a side. It can't be that the issues have gotten more complex, though it may be that I have grown to see them that way.

X posted to michigan_pagans

On a completely unrelated topic: Chappelle in talks to play Rick James, Bitch!

Comments

[nate101000.livejournal.com]

The website you linked refers to the NAAWP as a hate group. The National Association for the Advancement of White People puts this in their recruiting page...

"The NAAWP doesn't stand for hating anyone, and more importantly it never has. It's about building a new, better society. A homogeneous community where everyone contributes, everyone benefits, and all share a common set of values and moral beliefs, without the continual attacks on culture."

Of course upon reading the NAAWP site a little further it reveals itself to be a slight bit racist. It directly implies that crime is caused by the commingling of the races.

I could make a good argument for the NAACP being an anti-white hate group.

"Why join the NAACP? Membership is Power!"
"...the NAACP ensures the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens through democratic processes."

I know the reasoning is that white people don't need an advocacy group, but technically, in a democracy you shouldn't need advocacy groups because everyone is already equal.

[robdeicide.livejournal.com]

It all depends on what your defenition of hate is.
I think it may just be a relative term.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's true.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

The assertion of this website is that Separatist groups are also considered Hate Groups. While I think that in many cases there is hate present in the members of these groups; I contend that separatism is not neccessarily hateful in and of itself.

[madush69.livejournal.com]

I wish no one felt the need to start groups or networks focusing on ONE group...e.g. BET, NAACP, NAAWP, etc. Lets just have a goup called NAOED: National Association of Earth Dwellers. We're all from the same planet, we gotta stick together, there's nowhere else to go.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, but then I have no real connection with my own ethnicity. I might feel otherwise if I did. Not to say that separatism is okay, but that i might see the value in preserving ones heritage if I had any connection to speak of with mine.

Anyway, will I see you Saturday?

[nate101000.livejournal.com]

It depends on why a person wants to separate. If I say white people and black people should be separate because they have different cultures, and different cultures mixing causes a dilution of my own culture, and I don't like that. Then that isn't hateful. But If I say white people and black people should be separate because black people are inferior to white people. Then I would certainly be racist, and possibly hateful.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Isn't rascism hateful in and of itself?

[nate101000.livejournal.com]

No necessarily.

"White people are superior to black people." Is a racist statement in my opinion. But it isn't in and of itself hateful.