The language of hatred

If a writer can use language to paint a textured portrait of love and happiness, then it follows that the reverse is also true. Language, like art, can be used to convey hatred and malice. Take the swastika for example. It is simply eight black lines, but their particular arrangement speaks of a hatred and evil far beyond its humble physical presence. The same eight lines, arranged differently, and in a different context, could be used to convey just about anything. It all depends on the context and form.

Words are exactly the same. The word fag has always intrigued me. On paper, it’s just three simple letters; spoken, it’s three simple sounds. F, A and G can be used in other contexts to mean just about anything. The word can be ugly or friendly; the phrase “you’re such a fag” can be used as a friendly jab by Lala or Liz when I do something particularly gay or it can be used by the insecure school yard bully as a vitriolic taunt. So powerful is language that it can boost your spirits or reduce your self-esteem in one fell swoop. On paper, the phrasedoesn’t always belie its own subtext; that depends on what happens around it.

I’ve had a few negative comments in my 10 months of blogging, but I’ve never been so thoroughly disgusted at a comment until I read a comment on Ryan’s post about Mikey’s accident yesterday. Here’s an excerpt of the hateful attack directed at them:

Your so called boyfriend got what he deserved and soon will be in hell with all the fags before him. You still have a chance to seek help and change your sinful ways. Seek the Lord and he shall set you free ... For those of you who have deluded yourselves into thinking that the story of Sodom isn't really talking about homosexuals, read the following: the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had completely turned away from God, and whenever that happens, homosexuality abounds ... Anybody who thinks that today is any different than those days needs to attend San Francisco's annual gay rights parade, stand along the parade route, and hold a sign that says "GOD HATES FAGS."

When I read that I was totally gobsmacked. Leaving aside the content of the comment for a moment (we’ll get to that in a minute), I don’t understand how anyone could say such repulsive things to someone after their boyfriend has been in a terrible accident, even if they were true. Whether it was written in a hasty fit of self-righteousness or it was a deliberate act to hurt Ryan, it just goes to show that you can use language for evil just as easily (perhapsmoreso) than for good.

I guess I also don’t understand the motivation. If it was her wish to save his soul from hell, then she certainly went about it the wrong way and at the most inopportune time. What is such a fundamentalist christian even doing at a gay blog anyway? Looking for someone to save? Looking for trouble to stir up? There is a particular website, which I refuse to name or link to because they don't deserve the traffic, devoted to promoting this kind of drivel. They are the ones who madeplacards and picketed Matthew Shepard's funeral. They make me sick.

After confronting the author of that comment, Ryan received a second comment:

Big words from a little fag call me what you will I know I am going to heaven and your faggot ass will burn in hell. Asking all the fag lovers that flock to this site for prayer in saving your boyfriend. God has deaf ears when it comes from fags or fag supporters. Shame on all of you turn your heart over and let God cleanse your soul or you will rot in hell with all the fags.

And now, the content. I don’t understand how these ‘christians’ (and I use the term incredibly loosely and with a small C—they don’t deserve the respect of a capital letter) can march under the banner of Jesus and the Bible and use the word fag; it’s totally beyond me. What happened to “the greatest of these [commandments] is love”? These people base their hatred on the Bible which, like any other written work, can be interpreted in different ways. If you have love and happiness in your heart, it is a book of hope and joy; if you are full of hatred and (self?)loathing, it can become a powerful weapon.

I’m not saying that I do not believe in the Bible, nor am I saying that I do not believe in God, nor in ‘good Christians’. I don’t talk about my religious and spiritual beliefs on this blog, but thatdoesn’t mean they aren ’t there. I am a proud Christian. I believe in God, Jesus, the Bible, redemption and sacrifice, the whole bit. I even believe in the Church. I do not, however, believe the Bible should ever, ever, be used as a weapon. Does my being gay mean I have to forfeit my membership card? I don’t believe that for a second. I can think of a half dozen verses to throw at the troll that wrote that comment but I’m not going to bother; it won’t get anyone anywhere.

“So faith, hope, love abide, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor 13:13

“If anyone says ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his bother whom he has seen,
cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20

I despair at the state of the world when people use their own sacred text to justify such evil acts.