Who Taught You to Hate "Them?"

A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble

“There is no them. There is only us.” — Fr. Gregory Boyle

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Credit: MediaDiversified.org

This week I had a painful conversation with someone I love—someone in my own family. I brought up my concern after reading a message posted by the Trump Administration on a U.S. government website:

“The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands.”¹

It was a shocking escalation of rhetoric—not just politically polarizing, but personally dangerous. That kind of language, backed by state power, is designed to dehumanize dissent. It is the kind of speech that, over time, makes violence between neighbors not just possible—but predictable.

I expressed my fear and concern. Their response came quickly and with venom:

“This is the Democrats’ fault! They want to give healthcare to illegal aliens.”

First—objectively—that’s false. No such policy has been proposed. But deeper than the factual inaccuracy, I was heartbroken by the objectification behind their words. Immigrants. Progressives. He didn’t speak of them as people with stories, with faces, with families—he spoke of them as threats.

I saw in that moment what the machinery of conservative propaganda can do to a person. It teaches us to see one another not as kin, but as enemies. It convinces us to abandon our deepest values for the sake of fear, grievance, and power. It numbs us to the cruelty of our words. It teaches us to justify suffering when it befalls someone “on the other side.”

We can’t afford this kind of dehumanization. Not in our families. Not in our congregations. Not in our politics. Not now.

There are only two offramps from this road. Either we wake up—millions of us—and remember the shared humanity of those we’ve been taught to fear, or we descend further into the violence, until our neighbor becomes our enemy and our nation becomes a battlefield.

The only antidote I know is to resist “othering” in all its forms. We must reject the lies that divide us. We must ask better questions. We must verify what we hear. We must stay curious about the lives of people who are different from us. We must hold compassion like a flame and refuse to let it go out.

Because…we all belong. We are all sacred, and none of us are free if we forget that.

We are in this together,

Cameron

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Reflection Questions

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1. Where have I absorbed messages that cause me to fear or devalue others?

2. How can I stay grounded in truth and compassion in the face of propaganda?

3. What does it mean for me to embody the belief that everyone belongs?

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A Prayer for the Day

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Keep Us Human

God of all,

When the world teaches us to divide and demonize,
keep us human.
When rhetoric turns violent and fear becomes law,
keep us courageous.
When those we love are swept up in lies,
keep us grounded in truth,
compassionate in our resistance,
and faithful to the work of repair.

Remind us:
We are not enemies.
We are kin.
And your image lives in us all.

Amen.

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Spiritual Practice

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The Sacred Work of Listening

Over the next few days, engage in one intentional act of listening with someone whose beliefs or background differ from your own, not to debate, not to correct. Simply to listen.

Practice setting aside defensiveness and asking, “What has shaped your story?” or “What do you hope for?”

Notice what changes when you seek connection rather than control.

Let listening be your act of resistance—and your offering of grace.

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Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…

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NEW!!!!!!!!!!!! October 8-9, 2025, 7-8:30pm ET ONLINE Event- Counterpoint: A Response to Peter Thiel’s Antichrist - For four straight Mondays, tech billionaire Peter Thiel is convening a private series in the heart of Silicon Valley on his obsession with the Antichrist. This peculiar and troubling theological fixation is not just eccentric—it reveals how his version of political theology and apocalyptic imagination are shaping the worldview of some of the most powerful people in the world. We cannot remain silent. As a counterpoint, join me and Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox, along with Kamala Harris’ former Communication Director, Gil Duran, for a powerful counter-narrative rooted in wisdom, justice, and authentic spirituality. REGISTER HERE.

October 18, 2025 - No Kings 2.0 Protest - Scholars of authoritarianism teach us that we need 3.5% of the population rising up to disrupt the rise of authoritarians. The last protest had over 6 million people in the streets in the US (more around the world) which was one of the largest protest in US history. We need to double that number. So here we go again. The movement builds. See you on the streets.

October 20-24, 2025 - FREE Online 5-Day Summit on “Made for These Times: Spiritual Leadership for a World in Crisis.” Political extremism. Climate collapse. Cultural fragmentation. People of faith across the globe are asking: How do we lead with clarity, courage, and compassion in a time like this? REGISTER HERE.

October 23, 30, November 13, 20 2025, 7pm ET - In Search of a New Story: Reimagining What Comes Next, A 4-Part Online Series with Dr. Matthew Fox, Cameron Trimble, Ilia Delio, Diana Butler Bass, Caroline Myss and Luther Smith. We are living through the unraveling of many old stories—about who we are, why we’re here, and how we are meant to live together on this Earth. As these inherited narratives collapse under the weight of climate crisis, social fragmentation, and spiritual disconnection, the question becomes clear: What story will guide us now? REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

July 19-24, 2026 - Join me and my amazing co-facilitator, Victoria, on retreat in the back-country of beautiful Wyoming. The Art of Wilding is a 5-Day Expedition for Women Leaders. We will spend the week reconnecting to nature, exploring our inner landscapes for change, and engage the wisdom of spiritual teachings. Click here to learn more.

I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.

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If you are a leader or member of a congregation looking for consulting support in visioning, planning, hiring or staffing, please consider Convergence.

1. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5528691-housing-urban-development-radical-left-shutdown/