Biased About Hatred

The new word being trampled to death in our public discourse is "biased." It used to mean "unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something." Now, it seems to mean "having a different opinion than me." If I think my Congressperson is good and you don't, I can say your view doesn't count because you're biased. Only people who think my Congressperson is good are unbiased and therefore have valid opinions.

This is especially true when those biased people who don't like my Congressperson have held that opinion for any length of time. In fact, the longer you believe something, the greater your bias. For quite a while, I've believed that Charles Manson was a dangerous psychotic. But you can't take that opinion seriously because, obviously, I'm biased against him.

"Hate" is also starting to get warped, especially when used in the phrase, "He hates America." It's become one of those insults you use when you want to condemn a person and don't have anything of substance. As I think I've said here before, I don't think it's fair to throw that put-down at anyone unless that person has actually said "I hate America" or "I despise America" or "I loathe America" or something like that.

If you don't agree with me, you're biased and you clearly hate America. No, I can't prove you do but you can't prove you don't. That's what's so great about it as an insult.