James von Brunn is the alleged shooter at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC yesterday. He is in the custody of the authorities, in a hospital, in serious condition from the wounds he received when he allegedly stormed into the museum with a 22 caliber rifle, shooting and killing a museum security guard, by the name of Stephen Tyrone Johns. Unfortunately, Stephen Tyrone Johns was just doing his job when he became a victim of a man who had been nurturing his hatred for most of his 88 years on the planet. James von Brunn was allegedly shot by other guards in the museum who rushed to protect and serve.
The alleged shooter, James von Brunn, has been described, by many who knew him or visited his hate filled website, as a man consumed with hatred for both Jews and Black people. His ex-wife reportedly told ABC news that her ex husband was “eaten alive like a cancer with his hatred of Jews and blacks”.
Prejudice and hatred are emotions that are extremely destructive. No good comes of those two feelings when they are combined and directed towards others. Like all emotions, for them to grow and to take control of a person’s thoughts and actions, hatred and prejudice must be nutured. Hate crimes are fueled by people who have allowed those emotions to take control of their lives. It is important to try to overcome hatred before it’s roots sink deep and spread out touching and infecting others; destroying lives.
I came across an article on a website that i thought addressed overcoming hate rather well. I am including a link here for it. http://www.livestrong.com/article/14654-overcoming-hatred/#JUMP6 This is Lance Armstrong’s website Live Strong. The article was written by James J. Messina a licensed psychologist.
Recognizing the beginnings of hatred, and working towards overcoming prejudice and hatred directed towards any group of people, is a healthy thing to do. The danger in nurturing hatred and prejudice is that it only leads to destruction for both the person infected with such dark thoughts and emotions; and, for anyone that they despise who innocently crosses paths with them. No one deserves to become a victim to someone who is blinded by hatred; for no other reason other than just by being born. What are your thoughts on overcoming hatred?
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