Is the sentence correct: When people incite hate, it gets to me, whether they...

[Ahmadov]

Dear teachers,

I read a sentence in the Guardian which surprised me a lot. I thought the sentence was wrong. Since this was a quote by someone, I thought the editors of the newspaper did not correct it: "When people incite hate, it gets to me, whether they be Muslims or Christians"... . Should this not be "When people incite hatred, it gets to me, be they Muslims or Christians" or "When people, be they Muslims or Christians, incite hatred, it gets to me."?

Thanks

Zahir
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[Alan]

Hi Ahmadov,

The difference between 'hate' and 'hatred'? 'Hate' used as a noun suggests the emotion of strongly disliking someone/something and if you like, 'love' as the opposite, can perform the same function in terms of language as 'hate'. 'Hatred' also as a noun conveys a much stronger sense of dislike and to me indicates a concentration of 'hate' against someone/something. Within 'hatred' there is also, as it were, a sense of bitterness. In your quotation 'hate' is acceptable since 'hatred' would be, I believe, too strong in the context.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Ahmadov]

Thanks Alan,

but how about the other bit of the sentence?
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Learning is a sacred engagement.

[Alan]

Hi,

I don't think the word order matters - it could be either. The only difference is that by putting 'be they ...' first you are emphasising 'Muslims or Christians'.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Ahmadov]

Ok, so I understand that you are happy with the Guardian sentence... Thanks again...
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Learning is a sacred engagement.