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How is hate shaping our society? When nationalist populism has the capacity to threaten social cohesion, it's time to question the powers at play. On Hate is an urgent call for citizens to defend democracy against extremism. 'A searing analysis of hate, and what happens when it infects our body politic. Tim reminds us that standing against hate is patriotism. It is defending our democracy.' PENNY WONG
51 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 21, 2020
Tim Soutphommasane gives a really good summary of what Australia's racism currently looks like and some of the formative events/players that have influenced the political space. I like how Tim discusses the impacts of legitimising racism on democracy and how Australia has closed its eyes to racism.
December 31, 2020
This eloquent essay considers the concept of hate and how it is shaping our society. It defines the word and examines it specifically within the Australian context, largely in relation to racism. Former Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, argues that racism has been a part of the Australian fabric since colonisation and is essentially driven by anger and fear. He explores how hate is a key tenant of nationalist populism and is inherently linked to politics. Hate is most dangerous when it is given voice and normalised, which it most notably has with the rise of the alt-right within the last decade or more, claiming to defend free speech while also hypocritically quashing any opinions that diverge from their own. Soutphommasane offers lots of reasons why we need to be on the look out for the rise of hate and what politicians need to do in order to curtail this. As he writes, “We must expect and demand that political leaders defend us from the dangers of hate, rather than expose us to them. They must understand that any partisan advantage to be gained from stoking resentment is overwhelmed by the damage it does to the harmony and stability of society.” (p.63) This year has taught us many things, but surely this is one.
March 18, 2019
"When you have the Attorney-General of Australia defending a right to bigotry on the floor of parliament, when you make the cause of free speech synonymous with a desire to inflict racial vilification on others, it changes the political climate."
Yes, it does. As does a motion that it is "Okay to be White" almost passing on the Senate Floor.
Fragile, white privilege using the principle of Free Speech to express their outrage about being called out by POC for inequality and racism. It is stunning how those with privilege try to make themselves the oppressed, the disadvantaged. I'd laugh but it is way too prevalent by those with power to be funny. Mr. Soutphommasane does an excellent job in showing how those with institutional power often try to change the narrative to paint anti-racism as the source of social division and not the racist practices themselves. The privileged urging those who are marginalized to shut-up and stop complaining, are making the complaint the problem instead of a "whiteness" problem. Another tactic is to "demonize" the complainants as agitators, lefties, whatever, denying the propriety of anti-racism. Free speech defenders attacking people who use their free speech to condemn racism. Irony, anyone?
As Race Discrimination Commissioner, Mr. Soutphommasane has plenty of examples of hate at work in Australia. Debates are inflamed by anger and intolerance and he cautions us to defend our values against the extremism that is on the rise. I particularly appreciated his stand for civilized and respectful discourse BUT not to the extent of tolerating intolerance. The liberal sensibility of killing hatred with kindness may work 1% of the time, but will not be enough to succeed in overturning the primary motivation for hatred, which is power and dominance. People who are caught up in an institutional pattern of oppression will not succeed in convincing people who hold status to relinquish that status addressing the "better angels of their nature." Won't happen and it is disingenuous for liberals to promote that as a strategy.
He also draws attention to the idea that democracies feel they need to give an equal airing to the noxious ideas of white supremacism. White supremacism is not democratic, in fact, it is aimed at destroying democracy, so why this "kowtowing" to its proponents? Think, Sarah Fergusen interviewing Steve Bannon on 4 Corners, Milo whathisface being allowed in Oz. Is it because racism is couched in so much bland euphemism that its anti-democratic intent is misdiagnosed?
The door is open to authoritarian rule. It is happening on a global scale. Standing against hate is our only chance of turning the tide. As a pessimist, I don't hold out hope for the tide turning, but do subscribe to standing against hate as a way to live as a human being.
Very powerful essay by Mr. Soutphommasane.
Yes, it does. As does a motion that it is "Okay to be White" almost passing on the Senate Floor.
Fragile, white privilege using the principle of Free Speech to express their outrage about being called out by POC for inequality and racism. It is stunning how those with privilege try to make themselves the oppressed, the disadvantaged. I'd laugh but it is way too prevalent by those with power to be funny. Mr. Soutphommasane does an excellent job in showing how those with institutional power often try to change the narrative to paint anti-racism as the source of social division and not the racist practices themselves. The privileged urging those who are marginalized to shut-up and stop complaining, are making the complaint the problem instead of a "whiteness" problem. Another tactic is to "demonize" the complainants as agitators, lefties, whatever, denying the propriety of anti-racism. Free speech defenders attacking people who use their free speech to condemn racism. Irony, anyone?
As Race Discrimination Commissioner, Mr. Soutphommasane has plenty of examples of hate at work in Australia. Debates are inflamed by anger and intolerance and he cautions us to defend our values against the extremism that is on the rise. I particularly appreciated his stand for civilized and respectful discourse BUT not to the extent of tolerating intolerance. The liberal sensibility of killing hatred with kindness may work 1% of the time, but will not be enough to succeed in overturning the primary motivation for hatred, which is power and dominance. People who are caught up in an institutional pattern of oppression will not succeed in convincing people who hold status to relinquish that status addressing the "better angels of their nature." Won't happen and it is disingenuous for liberals to promote that as a strategy.
He also draws attention to the idea that democracies feel they need to give an equal airing to the noxious ideas of white supremacism. White supremacism is not democratic, in fact, it is aimed at destroying democracy, so why this "kowtowing" to its proponents? Think, Sarah Fergusen interviewing Steve Bannon on 4 Corners, Milo whathisface being allowed in Oz. Is it because racism is couched in so much bland euphemism that its anti-democratic intent is misdiagnosed?
The door is open to authoritarian rule. It is happening on a global scale. Standing against hate is our only chance of turning the tide. As a pessimist, I don't hold out hope for the tide turning, but do subscribe to standing against hate as a way to live as a human being.
Very powerful essay by Mr. Soutphommasane.
May 3, 2019
An absolutely essential read for every member of the human race.
Hate is a state of mind that we have all felt at one point or another in our lives. Unfortunately, there are those of us who make it our mission to hate on particular races, religions, sexual orientations, etc. Anything that separates a person from being basically a "white middle class man".
This is especially true in Australia. Soutphommasane talks at length about the different kinds of subvert, but also overt, racism that exists in this multicultural country. Anglo-Celtic Australians are the ones who decide who gets to be called Australian, regardless of their birth certificate or citizenship. The idea of an Australian is the fair skinned, blonde beach goer, wearing thongs and boardies and living a carefree life.
This is the idyllic depiction of Australia. Australians are not just white and blonde. Australians have a multitude of heritages and can come from a vast array of countries and continents across the world. What makes someone Australian isn't the colour of their skin. It's whether they have chosen to call this country home.
Soutphommasane also touches on how political leaders can breathe life into violent hatred, especially when it comes to xenophobia and racism. In the aftermath of the Christchurch massacres, a senator from Queensland released a press statement that read very much like the senator believed that the people who died that day almost had it coming to them - because that's what happens when you let Muslims into your country.
This book was published before that attack and that statement, but holy cow does it ring truer than ever. Politicians and any other kind of leaders need to be aware that their words have meaning, and if they create and feed an atmosphere of racism, fear and hate, they can't be surprised when they incite a violent person to act.
Another incredibly poignant fact is that people are so reluctant to call out racism when they see it. Let's cast our minds back to the Keneally incident earlier this year. She was called a racist on national television, and rather than accept that she had made an error in her speech, Keneally got on the defensive and turned herself into the victim. Let's ignore the fact that she said that all Aboriginal women and children were being raped and murdered in the Northern Territory, then, shall we?
What's especially important is that we need to name something in order to fight it. And we also need to not be afraid of it, damned be the consequences if you call out your mother or grandfather at the dinner table for a racist joke or jibe. These kinds of comments may seem "harmless" at the time, but comments like these fester. They grow. And from "throwaway statements" we get rallies. We get violence. We get gunmen walking into two mosques in Christchurch and murdering 50 innocent men, women and children.
Fight hate with kindness. Open the discussion. Do not ignore racists and do not allow them a platform to perform their disgusting rhetoric. Call them out on the spot. Be shameless in your disputes. Be proud. Because we can't expect people of colour, the LGBTQI+ community, or religions other than Christianity, to do all the fighting.
This was a brilliant essay, and necessary in today's climate.
Hate is a state of mind that we have all felt at one point or another in our lives. Unfortunately, there are those of us who make it our mission to hate on particular races, religions, sexual orientations, etc. Anything that separates a person from being basically a "white middle class man".
This is especially true in Australia. Soutphommasane talks at length about the different kinds of subvert, but also overt, racism that exists in this multicultural country. Anglo-Celtic Australians are the ones who decide who gets to be called Australian, regardless of their birth certificate or citizenship. The idea of an Australian is the fair skinned, blonde beach goer, wearing thongs and boardies and living a carefree life.
This is the idyllic depiction of Australia. Australians are not just white and blonde. Australians have a multitude of heritages and can come from a vast array of countries and continents across the world. What makes someone Australian isn't the colour of their skin. It's whether they have chosen to call this country home.
Soutphommasane also touches on how political leaders can breathe life into violent hatred, especially when it comes to xenophobia and racism. In the aftermath of the Christchurch massacres, a senator from Queensland released a press statement that read very much like the senator believed that the people who died that day almost had it coming to them - because that's what happens when you let Muslims into your country.
This book was published before that attack and that statement, but holy cow does it ring truer than ever. Politicians and any other kind of leaders need to be aware that their words have meaning, and if they create and feed an atmosphere of racism, fear and hate, they can't be surprised when they incite a violent person to act.
Another incredibly poignant fact is that people are so reluctant to call out racism when they see it. Let's cast our minds back to the Keneally incident earlier this year. She was called a racist on national television, and rather than accept that she had made an error in her speech, Keneally got on the defensive and turned herself into the victim. Let's ignore the fact that she said that all Aboriginal women and children were being raped and murdered in the Northern Territory, then, shall we?
What's especially important is that we need to name something in order to fight it. And we also need to not be afraid of it, damned be the consequences if you call out your mother or grandfather at the dinner table for a racist joke or jibe. These kinds of comments may seem "harmless" at the time, but comments like these fester. They grow. And from "throwaway statements" we get rallies. We get violence. We get gunmen walking into two mosques in Christchurch and murdering 50 innocent men, women and children.
Fight hate with kindness. Open the discussion. Do not ignore racists and do not allow them a platform to perform their disgusting rhetoric. Call them out on the spot. Be shameless in your disputes. Be proud. Because we can't expect people of colour, the LGBTQI+ community, or religions other than Christianity, to do all the fighting.
This was a brilliant essay, and necessary in today's climate.
June 8, 2019
A short, but provocative, analysis on Hate. What it means, its causes and how it is shaping our society. The author has ideal qualifications to discuss the topic, having been Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for several years.
He states that "it is hard to escape hate's presence in public life." Media commentators and politicians inflame public opinion by promoting racial discrimination that causes fear, which in turn can develop to hatred towards those who are of different ethnic backgrounds, religions or gender identification. Racial hatred is becoming normalised. Tolerance and equality, features of democratic societies, are being replaced by prejudice. Refugees are being branded as "illegal immigrants."
As claimed on the back cover of the book, On Hate is "an urgent call for citizens to defend democracy against extremism".
He states that "it is hard to escape hate's presence in public life." Media commentators and politicians inflame public opinion by promoting racial discrimination that causes fear, which in turn can develop to hatred towards those who are of different ethnic backgrounds, religions or gender identification. Racial hatred is becoming normalised. Tolerance and equality, features of democratic societies, are being replaced by prejudice. Refugees are being branded as "illegal immigrants."
As claimed on the back cover of the book, On Hate is "an urgent call for citizens to defend democracy against extremism".
December 18, 2024
this has been the very first book on my want to read list for a LONG time. i first saw Tim Soutphommasane on a tv interview discussing racism in Australia for a university course, and immediately added this to my TBR when i found out his work had been published, because he was so well-spoken and informative in in interview.
Tim talks succinctly and to-the-point about racism, hate and oppression with relevance to Australia. this is a highly relevant and quick-to-read essay!
Tim talks succinctly and to-the-point about racism, hate and oppression with relevance to Australia. this is a highly relevant and quick-to-read essay!
September 27, 2020
An important book on how and why we hate, specifically the impact that this has on our society and social policy. An insight into identity politics and the dangers of forcing people into categories.
A worth while and honest little book.
A worth while and honest little book.
February 26, 2019
A very interesting read despite its smaller size. Tim does his best to explain the current causes, responses and solutions to hate in our society. His views come from a wealth of personal and professional experience. There is a lot here to think about.
“We need a clear understanding of the very nature of hatred. Hate isn’t just about emotional hostility or irrational outbursts, .... it’s ultimately about power and dominance.”
”Our conventional view of evil and hate is to see them as exceptional, instead of as things of which all of us are capable. But hate isn’t an aberration. We all have it in us to hate, and we all can be conditioned to do it. It’s something that we can be built into democratic institutions, not only by politicians seeking advantage from fear-mongering, but also by communities themselves.”
“We need a clear understanding of the very nature of hatred. Hate isn’t just about emotional hostility or irrational outbursts, .... it’s ultimately about power and dominance.”
”Our conventional view of evil and hate is to see them as exceptional, instead of as things of which all of us are capable. But hate isn’t an aberration. We all have it in us to hate, and we all can be conditioned to do it. It’s something that we can be built into democratic institutions, not only by politicians seeking advantage from fear-mongering, but also by communities themselves.”
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews