{"id":4822,"date":"2020-04-02T11:16:31","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T16:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=4822"},"modified":"2020-04-02T11:59:45","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T16:59:45","slug":"de-escalating-hate-toward-a-dynamic-vision-of-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/de-escalating-hate-toward-a-dynamic-vision-of-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"De-escalating hate toward a dynamic vision of unity"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dennis Frado, Director, Lutheran Office for World Community<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There\u2019s too much \u201cothering\u201d today of people we don\u2019t know or haven\u2019t met. And, in a related way, awful hate speech abounds.* It is as if we have forgotten that each person has been made in the image of God and thereby has dignity and deserves respect.<\/p>\n

We are all different and yet the same in God\u2019s eyes. Identity \u2013 race, gender, nationality, etc. – is based on human constructions, but it is not how God sees us. Whatever identity we have or is imposed on us should not become our god.<\/p>\n

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/a>, is going after hate speech, xenophobia, racism and intolerance \u2013 including rising anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred and persecution of Christians. He said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cHate speech is a menace to democratic values, social stability and peace. As a matter of principle, the United Nations must confront hate speech at every turn”; and<\/p>\n

\u201cAddressing hate speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech. It means keeping hate speech from escalating into something more dangerous, particularly incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, which is prohibited under international law.\u201d<\/p>\n

With so many efforts around the world to drive people apart rather than recognize their humanity and promote reconciliation and peace, let us resolve to work for the common good.<\/p>\n

In its call to foster \u201ca dynamic vision of difference in unity,\u201d the ELCA social statement For Peace in God\u2019s World<\/em><\/a> affirms: \u201cAll people in their amazing diversity are God\u2019s creatures, sinners for whom Christ died,\u201d and continues:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis vision calls us to engage differences, not to ignore or fear them. The hope for earthly peace challenges people to strengthen their own particular communities in ways that promote respect and appreciation for people in other communities, for all share a common humanity.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

* NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This commentary was prepared prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, the situation has spawned additional hate speech or racist remarks and actions directed against, for example, Asian Americans and China.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dennis Frado, Director, Lutheran Office for World Community There\u2019s too much \u201cothering\u201d today of people we don\u2019t know or haven\u2019t met. 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