WASHINGTON — CNN commentator Sally Kohn will share tools for combating feelings of hate toward others, and the thought patterns behind the emotion, when she speaks April 18 at The George Washington University in D.C.
Kohn, who has commented on Fox News, and is known for her ability to make friends across the political aisle was moved to write a book following the 2016 election and after seeing “how angry political discourse had become and how angry it made her.”
She decided to investigate where the feelings of hate come from and ultimately to offer tools for dealing with it.
Kohn told WTOP’s Dimitri Sotis about the book that tells the stories of people who have left “extraordinary” lives of hate behind.
Kohn spoke to ex-Nazis and terrorists whose stories are included in the book.
The narrative contains the science and history of hate plus a step-by-step guide on what to do about it, Kohn told Sotis.
“The public policies that got us here are, of course, complicated when we think about the history of slavery and segregation and sexism and rural and urban dynamics. All that is complicated,” she said.
However, Kohn said a lot of how we should treat each other isn’t that complicated at all.
“In spite of your differences and disagreements, which I don’t ever want to minimize and I think are important to us as people in this country, in spite of that, we are still all human beings that deserve love dignity and equal treatment,” she said.
The book has received celebrity endorsement from the likes of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.
An important book for the times, from dear friend @sallykohn #TheOppositeofHate pic.twitter.com/9Gd7EWcSXj
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) April 8, 2018
Kohn went on to explain how we treat people who we think are like ourselves.
“We give them the benefit of the doubt, we give them grace, we give them forgiveness, we let people not be the worst things they have ever done in their lives or the worst things they’ve ever said in their lives,” she said.
Kohn said a similar attitude can be adopted when dealing with anyone.
“We all know how to be nice, I think we do” said Kohn. “I think we have forgotten in addition to wanting everyone to do it for ourselves, we have to do it for others.”
Kohn examines the concept of “emotional correctness” in the book. The concept embodies talking respectfully and kindly to one another.
“What also matters is not just the words we say to each other but how we communicate with each other, the intent we convene and the intent we assume trying to talk to others as though we assume the best in them and trying to listen as though we assume the best in them,” she said.
Kohn has also given TED talks about finding compassion for your fiercest political enemies.
She will be in conversation with Candy Crowley, former chief political correspondent for CNN, at the GW Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st St. NW, on April 18. Tickets are available in advance.
Her book is called The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity.
