The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker

by Roger DeBlanck

The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker offers a range of gripping essays, poems, and meditations that examine both the deterioration and progress of our collective humanity in the 21st century.

The urgent pieces in the first half of the book exact a lens on America to expose and confront the rampant hate proliferating at every level of society and government across the country. In particular, the book takes an unflinching stance against the danger and negligence of those holding political power who abuse their positions by weaponizing falsehoods and misinformation to dehumanize “others” while at the same time radicalizing malcontents to commit violence masked as justice.

Then the book turns to peacemaking with a number of exploratory pieces honoring the endurance of “Mother Earth” before focusing on contemporary peacemakers working to bridge distances between races and faiths. In two of the volume’s most revealing essays, DeBlanck shares his spiritual journey of how his reverence for Islam has been instrumental in expanding his Christian view of God and peace. A trio of beautiful poems near the end of the book honors three of the world’s most inspiring peacemakers: Mary, Jesus, and Muhammad.

Whether he is quoting the incomparable Toni Morrison or a verse from the Qur’an, Roger DeBlanck’s vision in The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker examines the forces of history and the choices we make that shape our civic conscience towards one another. With indignation and optimism, the essays, poems, and meditations remind us to reject the misguidance of hate in favor of discovering the kingdom of peace residing in each of our souls.

119 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2022

About the author

Roger DeBlanck is the author of seven books: four novels and three works of poetry and nonfiction. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Information Science. He works as a librarian in a large public library in Las Vegas, and he lives in Henderson, Nevada, with his beloved dog named Sophy. Visit the author’s website at rogerdeblanck.com for the latest news and updates on his work. You can connect with Roger here on Goodreads and also on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Twitter. All links are available on his website.

Reviews

[Carla Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger DeBlanck has eloquently captured the anger and frustration that many of us feel witnessing the current ills in the United States. He manages to be thoughtful despite his dismay, drawing on a wide range of sources and deftly using both prose and verse. A heartfelt document of our current moment, though pegged down with learning and thinking to our past.

[Glenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book to reflect upon and share with everyone. The book starts with taking on the hate, anger, and lies of the past several years. The anxiety and fear that democracy in the United States is ending is very real. This book boldly addresses the environment we are living in created by Trumpists and Republicans. I applaud Roger DeBlanck for his literary courage to stand up to the hate, racism, and falsehoods with his essays and poems. We must listen to and read the truth. I know many individuals, including myself, find it easier to ignore it. But soon, it will be too late.

It was joyful to read the second part of the book dedicated to the peacemakers. It encouraged me to be hopeful and believe that better days are ahead. It was refreshing to hear the truth! I am a Christian and the hypocrisy of so called “christians” claiming Jesus as their Savior is clearly exposed. Really now, would Jesus support the platform of hate that the white supremacist Trumpists expound?

The Table of Contents guides you to turn to any part of the book, especially for me the peacemaker poems. Mother Earth Speaking says, “… when you die I will take you back, no matter your crimes against me, and I will wrap you in my arms, my soil’s blanket, once more warming your cold body.” Changemaker on the Field says, “… the flag only means something when it means the same freedom, the same justice, the same protection for everyone.” One of my favorites The Blessed Mother says, “Saving the world began with her, the blessed Mother, so we seek her help.” These are among my favorites.

[Laura Eppinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a collection of poetry, prose AND essay all in one! I delighted in the blend of academic peace studies theory, politics, history, theology and more that occur throughout this literary collection. That’s always how my own brain has worked, and I have long resisted being siloed into one single genre. (In undergrad I was a Journalism student who devoured novels and poetry -- I didn’t wholly fit in one camp then and still don’t.)

So it may break some rules that the Introduction to this collection lays out what can only be called theses: that Donald Trump’s racism, Islamophobia, fascism, and other “hatemaking” (a term coined by the author) are unacceptable and also Anti-American, and also that Islam is a beautiful religion, worth our reverence. All of this points to DeBlanck’s central aim: showing that America’s strength is and always has been its diversity (in vision if not always in practice).

In that same Introduction, DeBlanck details years of his own meditations and reflections upon the fiction of Toni Morrison as much as the religious practices of both Jesus and Mohammed (Peace be upon His name). Every piece of writing here is informed by this reverence, for great literature, for peacemakers, and for the power of words.

Part 1 of this collection is “Confronting Hate.” It can be jarring to see the hatemaking throughout the presidential term of Donald J. Trump spelled out so frankly. I lived through it, but the full inventory here needs to be entered into the historical record.

I do happen to agree with the broad theories* DeBlanck has expressed here, in terms of racism in our society and our moral obligation to confront and release our own intolerance. So, I was impressed with the clarity and seeming simplicity (though I am aware writing is NEVER simple) in which DeBlanck expresses these ideas on the page.

The struggle from this stanza is present throughout: “giving up hatemaking proves hard, / like climbing a barbed wire fence.”

Part 2 is “Embracing Peace,” is full of different versions of what comes next, for Americans or for all the humans on Earth. Will we fester with all the grief we refuse to experience? Is the only hope for peace a world where humans have gone extinct? Those are bleak prospects, but not the only way forward. Community, collectivism -- these are potential paths we can take to the future. DeBlanck offers several options for role models, from Civil Rights leaders like Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., to contemporary politicians like AOC and Ilhan Omar, to the prophets of the Quran and the Bible. There are many paths to peace and justice ready for us to follow NOW, if we can muster the will.

Overall, I experienced this collection as a rallying cry, a chance to reflect on my own political ideals and recharge after one political action -- or plan for my next one.


* I am less passionate about a few of DeBlanck’s ideas; for example, I do not care if Confederate statues are vandalized or by what means they are removed from public. I respect the author’s position that any Confederate statue or tribute should be on display in a museum, “where the complete story of America’s history can be clearly addressed with the Confederates exposed for their crimes and their racism.” My anarchist streak says: spray paint Jefferson Davis, take a piss on Robert E. Lee, throw them in a river, I do not care about their images at all. But I certainly respect DeBlanck for taking a higher road! I may have little quibbles like this, but am very much aligned with the theses herein.

[Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ideas in this book are presented in such an intelligent way to show how we sadly got to where we are in America. The facts and truth are clear in showing ignorant individuals falling into the trap of hate and America now has a long way to go to repair itself. The book makes you relive the horrible events of recent years and the history of the past with its connection to the hate and racism still hurting America. The peacemaking ideas soar like the birds on the cover and your hearts lifts. I was so moved by the author’s respect for all religious beliefs and his growing love of Islam in showing peace through Muhammad as an equal of Jesus and Mary with other prophets we love. This is a beautiful book telling the truth and making you think. It makes you want to be part of a solution to America’s problems. It makes you know why everyone’s choices and actions are so important and why we need activists and peacemakers guiding us. This is a peacemaking book hoping to open up people’s minds.

[Jonathan Sturak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking collection

They say that hate creates more hate. But the opposite is also true—truer now more than ever—peace creates more peace. We so desperately need the latter in the world in which we live. And Roger DeBlanck so vividly brings us to peace, but not without exposing hate.

This work is a culmination of Roger’s unique views of the world, a catharsis of ideas, visions, and prose. This book will make you think, and make you pine for peace. Read it with an open mind and use its contrasting ideas to live a better life—a life filled not with hate, but with peace. Godspeed.

[Raegen Pietrucha]

Early on in The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker, Roger DeBlanck declares “language is action” (“Say What You Want,” pg. 17), and indeed, DeBlanck seeks action through the words herein — primarily, a political change, which also seemingly requires a type of spiritual change, beginning in America, that might eventually lead to a global sustainable peace. As he rightfully points out, regardless of whether or not we participate in today’s rampant disinformation, fear, or hatemongering, “we are not separated / from the fire hate spreads” (“A Word of Hate,” pg. 45), thus we must make choices — personally, politically, spiritually — to ensure our mutual preservation over the current divisiveness and destruction. A tale in its own right but also an important companion piece to his novel Prayers from the Far Quarter, about an enslaved African Muslim in the early years of America’s existence, DeBlanck’s hybrid collection The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker provides not only one person’s snapshot of one of the most tumultuous political times humanity has (thus far, miraculously) survived since World War II but also an insight into one author’s process of discovery and creation as well as the personal, educational, and spiritual growth one might necessarily have to undergo along the way to become the person one must be to write the story one has been compelled for nearly a lifetime to tell.

[Dr NSCA-CPT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, Thought Provoking and Hard Hitting.
The Author, Mr Roger DeBlanck, hits a grand slam with The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker.
This book is written with passion and intelligence. The author writes with a hard hitting honesty about difficult topics. The Peacemaker Overcomes the Hatemaker will make you think about how politics, race and religion are discussed and treated.

[Jonathon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and you can see the passion behind his writings on the current state of the country.

[Paul Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An earnest appreciation for diversity

This book focuses on the various 'makers' of the world, a word which implies action. The title is fulfilled through explorations on the nature of religion and a spiritual desire for overcoming tribulations through unity that is too often blocked by ignorance that creates hatred.

The original poems are well written and impactful, from an array of perspectives. At times, dedicating themselves to the stories of certain individuals who exemplified change, and championed peace in the face of prejudice.

The author has much admiration for the great perspectives throughout history and clearly values knowledge as a means to comprehend the world in this work that does not waver in it's effort to overcome the many injustices that likely sparked it.