The above quote comes from a book It's Disgusting (Words Hurt) in which the author has interviews with filmmakers on what he calls the regressive society in Korea. What he says can easily be applied to all the first world countries; others have more important concerns. Women, the disabled, migrant workers, conscientious objectors, sexual minorities and religions are all objects of discrimination in our world society.
One of the filmmakers says it is important to experience being hurt by another, by stepping into the shoes of those hurting. With the crack in our own self-identity, something may enter bringing about change and understanding of the other. Wounds and cracks in our identity humble us and open us to the other.
When we are vulnerable we may be hurt greatly but are opened to ways of understanding ourselves and others. When we put ourselves in the place of the other and feel with them we change and the world in which we live changes because we have changed.
In recent years many books have been published on the subject of hatred. One of the representative books by a university professor: When a Word Becomes A Sword: What is hate speech and why is it bad? According to the professor words expressing a certain negative image of a minority group such as: "South Asian people are lazy" and "Koreans carry knives and in a quarrel are ready to use them"are examples of this negativity in speech.
Women are also stereotyped:need to be circumspect, not appear in the limelight, stay home and take care of the kids. We put limits on what they can do. Slowly these views are hardened and produce other discrimination.
A German journalist in a book on hate in society says those who hate don't realize it. They do not see themselves excluding others or demeaning others. It is not easy to realize you hate a group of people. The fact that many are writing about hate in society tells us a great deal of the society in which we live. Hate is becoming epidemic.
Most cultures accept freedom of speech which is revered but civility in society is also a value and how to accept both of these values is a problem for many. As if there is need to say everything that one believes to maintain integrity and honesty.
Cardinal Newman's description of a gentleman has some wise words to help us regain a certain amount of civility in society.
"One who never inflicts pain. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him...If he is an unbeliever, he will be too profound and large-minded to ridicule religion or to act against it; he is too wise to be a dogmatist or fanatic in his infidelity. He respects piety and devotion; he even supports institutions as venerable, beautiful, or useful, to which he does not assent; he honors the ministers of religion, and it contents him to decline its mysteries without assailing or denouncing them. He is a friend of religious toleration, and that, not only because his philosophy has taught him to look on all forms of faith with an impartial eye, but also from the gentleness and effeminacy of feeling, which is the attendant on civilization."
