It's an undeniable reality that our background dictates our foreground. The life we live is because of the life we've lived. Who we are comes from what we had and where we were. So ultimately, we're always going to be victims of our surroundings, as the atmosphere you breathe determines the quality of your lungs. That same principle holds true with morality. Someone who grows up in a household tethered in love and compassion is likely to grow to be a volunteer, teacher, and lifelong steward. And someone else who grows up in a domestic violence heavy home can grow to be conditioned to handle their conflicts with others physically. The concept of nature vs nurture isn't a novel breakthrough that I'm claiming to usher; it has just become a perfect example of a universally known concept that isn't a universally accepted component.
I've grown to accept the principle that 'hating those who hate' isn't always bad faith, and oftentimes is morally accepted. As a black man, I've lived with internalized malice for racists for reasons too obvious to explain. And anyone who I thought shared mutual cosmetic or lifestyle characteristics of other racists I've encountered, I automatically profiled them as a racist, even before a fair trial. But the ultimate truth teller Father Time revealed to me over the years that RACIST profiling is 1) prejudicial and 2) think about the air these guys breathed in.
Oftentimes, those who remain bigots as adults become that way through a lifelong grooming and mind control probing by their circle, their household, and their area's community dynamics. But sometimes, beyond the cognitive barriers derived from their bigotry, they uphold good character in various other respects. Bigotry should never be embraced or dismissed, but the person behind the bigotry's origin and perhaps current upbringing likely reveals why they are who they are. One of the most senseless sound bites of today is that POC (people of color), especially underprivileged ones, are natural born criminals and assailants. The same way Joe from deep water Alabama who comes from a southern Baptist centric household grows up to uphold bigoted views but also is an award winning firefighter and volunteer at a pet clinic, is the same way that Rob from Long Beach, CA makes straight As in school and doesn't get in trouble in school, then comes home and shoplifts for a daily after school meal. Both of them are descending dominoes on what I call The Morality Pyramid (TMP).
At the summit of TMP is the pinnacle of objective morality. Everything beneath it is declining objective morality. The summit is resided by those who are unwaveringly and organically kind and supportive. The residents usually last there for their lifetime unless they undergo a dramatic life change, and sometimes those can cause cracks in the pyramid and lead to descent from the pinnacle. And for those who were born into broken homes, conflict riddled environments, or even violent neighborhoods, they start off with cracks on their TMP. So inevitably they don't even get to start off at the pinnacle, and consequently they're at risk of lifelong free fall. And when bad choices are your typical choices, it requires full on re-programming to see the error of your ways and start ascending up your TMP. Oftentimes the top floor residents of TMP aren't always willing to extend a helping hand to the residents beneath them, and consequently lots of residents end up as lifelong prisoners of stasis.