Vocab Lesson

Please explain to me the difference between "virulent" hatred and hatred. We are constantly given (and constantly give) examples of a differentiation between "virulent" hatred and hatred and the subject of which became even more relevant with two words: "hate crime." My point here in questioning the use of such a qualifier/quantifier is that I feel that it allows for a cognitive dissonance of sorts. By arguing Hitler is the epitome of evil incarnate it allows people who might've agreed with his policies and supported him financially and profited off of his wars(hint hint) to somehow be let "off the hook." Because they were not running the trains or the camps, nor were they donning the uniform and the fascist salute, they escape being lumped into the category of "truly evil." I wonder though if people who get labeled today as "virulently" hateful such as the Rev. Phelps and Falwell (among others) are really convenient diversionary tactics from those who make "virulently hateful" policies. I wonder also if their semi-"free reign" allows people to tolerate the smilingly hateful (a sort of razor blade in honey approach) so that they don't HAVE to deal with those who are obviously "extremist" in their views. I suppose I should qualify this. Is there anything less hateful about speeches made by Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity than the shit spewed by Phelps and Falwell? Sure, their targets are "liberals" and "terrorists" rather than gays, America, and liberals and terrorists but is there any real difference? One coats their words and the other doesn't but both have this odd ability to nearly cut the throat of the "Left" and with any radical voice that does escape is labeled "treasonous" and so too dies the opportunity for dialogue and critical thought. Back to my question though (drama aside) I really would like to know what the difference is between "private" hatred that may motivate racist, sexist and homophobic policies and that of "public" hatred which may result in a "hate" crime or a "war of aggression." I find the different words we use quite fascinating. The words "frame" debate and thus our understanding but more often they crush debate. That which doesn't fit within the given frame is simply ignored or made to seem idiotic, evil or questionable at best. Take the words "beating death" and "lynching." People didn't label Matthew Shephard's death a lynching. It was listed in the press again and again as a "hate crime" but also from what I read as a "beating death." How is it not a lynching?
How is it that the actions taken by Israeli soldiers against Palestinians understood as "defense" rather than "aggression?" Or when an individual uses a bomb or becomes a bomb, this is "terrorism" but when nations do it, it is "justice" "war" or even "humanitarian intervention."
All of these words have a specific, significant function in our discourse. The more sanitized the language, the more distance is maintained cognitively, thus "morally" and conveniently enough, politically. This works on so many levels. By maintaining the illusion of a "middle class" in America and the even greater illusion that anyone can become part of the richest 1% if they just "work hard enough" or that all people on welfare are to blame for the economy being in the crapper, it keeps people's attention diverted and their energy divided. We become factionalized. We think it's the "illegal immigrants" faults. Never mind that without those willing (often forced) to work in fields and sweatshops, we would have nothing to eat and nothing to wear. We think "gay marriage" and "abortion" are truly "moral" issues. This keeps people from thinking about and questioning the "morality" of bombing an entire country (two, three or more) into democracy or bombing a pharamceutical plant or ignoring genocide after genocide because we don't want to acknowledge our own war crimes. Carefully constructed PR stifles dissent like duct tape over the mouth, while the chance for actual "discourse" is played out like a role-play game by corporate media monkeys who dance to the tune of the business interests who are REALLY in power. All the while we're told that EVERY action is for the "GOOD of America" or the "Good of the world." How anyone could believe that cutting social programs are going to benefit "ALL" of America, especially the "WORKING CLASS" of America or the YOUTH, OR the elderly. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is this "We" anyhow?

Your job isn't safe. Your family isn't safe. Your dream of retiring is exactly that and increasingly more so given the push for "overhauling" social security. I think any time you hear a policy maker sugar coat a policy agenda they're pushing you should automatically pause and think WHOA, "overhauling" "Defense of..." "reform," where have I heard this before? Ann Coulter can make an ass of herself slamming the feminist efforts that ALLOW for her to even be able to be misconstrued as an "Authority" (ON WHAT?) and sell a billion books doing so but someone like Arundhati Roy is viewed as "virulent" because her views aren't consistent with the crap spewed on the mainstream media. I think my post is starting to sound rather virulent. It just amazes me how words are so easily turned into weapons. The real danger is in silence and being made silent. Silence in the face of oppression. Silence in the reality of torture. Silence as the bombs fall. Didn't you ever want to ask someone like Phelps, someone who is running around screaming what GOD thinks/knows/believes/loves/hates/condemns and condones: How do you know God isn't up there going, would you just shut up already? I find the arrogance in people's pretense of "knowing" what GOD thinks pretty amazing. I'm a firm believer in karma. What you do comes back to you. So do you think Phelps might be reincarnated into a homosexual then or perhaps he is simply following in the footsteps of such grand souls as Hoover and McCarthy????
Hmm...I need sleep. :) peace!

"Have the strength to just sit inside your sadness
even if you're sitting there alone"--"Icarus" Ani DiFranco

"i'm haunted by my illicit, explicit dreams
and i can't really wake up
so i just drift in between
thinking the glass is half empty
and thinking it's not quite full"--"Slide" Ani (again)

"cuz all the wrong people have the power
of suggestion
and the freedom of the press is meaningless
if nobody asks a question"--"serpentine" Ani (yet again)

"so you see don't believe in the system
to legalize you or give you your freedom
you want rights ask 'em, they'll read 'em
but every flower gotta right to be bloomin'...
stay human..."--"Stay Human" Michael Franti/Spearhead