It's a fair point. Hate and fear are tightly intertwined, so much so that a good case could be made that all expressions of hate have their roots somewhere in fear. I don't think it's inconsistent to say that a pure expression of hate has its underpinnings in some kind of fear.

But I do agree that we owe it to ourselves, and each other, to understand what leads someone to act the way they do. I argue this all the time when someone brings out the old "terrorists just hate America" chestnut, it's only fair that I should have to wear those shoes myself. :-)

As an aside, I find it both saddening and amusing to find that the woman in this picture was later that afternoon arrested for slapping someone else during an argument: http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2007/06/15/03/3910-72/index.xml