General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFormer White supremacist: This is how to tackle hate and bigotry
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, White supremacy is the biggest security threat facing the United States today based on the number of violent crimes committed. It eclipses all other types of extremism.
Hate and bigotry are now bigger than they have ever been. And because of the internet, it has become easier for hate groups to spread propaganda and attract new members.
(snip)
As a former White supremacist and drug addict, I started to wonder if it was possible to be addicted to hate the way I was addicted to drugs as a coping tool. Based on this, I have spent the last two years developing two programs aimed at addressing the root causes of hate with Parents For Peace, which takes a public health approach to preventing radicalization, extremism, and violence.
I believe the most common causes of hate can be broken down into three categories: mental health, substance abuse and early trauma or grievances -- all of which applied to me. While I think that the government is interested in finding a cure to this problem, through actions like awarding grants to agencies that try to counter extremism, the government needs help from an appropriate team of advisers to address the issue of prevention effectively.
Much more
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/12/opinions/former-white-supremacist-how-to-tackle-hate-buckley/index.html
Important stuff!
DAMANgoldberg
(1,278 posts)Worth the time to read.
IMHO, many other problems can be solved this way, including policing, to treat as a public health, economic, and shall we say, national security issue; opposed to the "non" ways it's performed now.
ancianita
(35,812 posts)And paid for them.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,367 posts)tulipsandroses
(5,092 posts)As someone that works in mental health, I'm still alarmed at how many people qualify and have not signed up for a plan.
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)Vivienne235729
(3,373 posts)Hook people and keep them in these crazy white supremacist groups. WOW.
Upthevibe
(7,879 posts)I've saved it to read when I'm more awake....
Chili
(1,725 posts)I believe the most common causes of hate can be broken down into three categories: mental health, substance abuse and early trauma or grievances -- all of which applied to me..."
It's hard sometimes to remember this when they attack, either verbally or physically - it only makes you hate them, or hate them more. And if you turn the other cheek, they think you're weak, and so bully you even more.
I haven't read the whole article yet, I watched the video.
Thank you!