Hate isn’t the opposite of love, fear is. I truly believe that the root of hatred, whether it’s white supremacy or any of those other disgusting world views, is fear. Ignorance. Insecurity. They might be buried deeply but they’re down there.
As my city prepares for its turn as the target of such a protest on Saturday, I can’t help but think of a sign up the street on the lawn of someone we don’t know. I’ve seen them around the city, dotting lawns here and there. It’s taken me a while to find out where they originated.
I poked around online. I asked our Mayor, No one seemed to know where they came from. Yesterday, I mentioned the sign to our CJBK roundtable guest, Shawna Lewkowitz, who knew the answer. The Council of Canadians. It’s a volunteer group that aims to hold governments accountable on several issues. The London chapter has these Glad Neighbour signs available for $10. There might be a chapter near you, too. I’ve never been a lawn sign kind of gal (Canada Day notwithstanding) but I think the timing is right to change my mind. The subtext of this sign is that the colour of your skin doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re a decent human being and I’ll assume you are unless you prove otherwise.
Ignorance breeds fear, and fear breeds ignorance! For unless your prepared to explore and understand the nature of your ignorance and seek answers, your fear will merely generate greater ignorance and when coupled with emotion, it becomes dangerous and volatile.