Hate: (n) Intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
When I awoke this morning, I had no idea what I was going to post on my blog today. I had hoped to have my next set of lists ready from my 30 lists project. But I did not get as far as I would like on the project, so that was out. I considered a quick tech tip, but that just didn’t excite me. That led me on an Internet search for inspiration. One of the places I looked was on The Quote Garden site as suggested in today’s Ultimate Blog Challenge email. As soon as I saw the above quote, I knew I had found my inspiration
I get so discouraged these days reading and listening to discussions in the news, on Facebook or Twitter, or popular Internet websites (the list is endless really). And it’s not just political discourse (although that is definitely filled with intense hostility these days). It has become very popular, even acceptable, to hate anyone who does not think exactly like you. Or that you think to be lower than you on some scale you have devised. But what real benefit is there to be gained from that? Certainly not understanding. We will not learn compassion or patience. Society will not be improved as long as we allow hatred to become acceptable simply because we do not disagree.
I in no way believe that we all need to think the same way. We do not. Society will never grow and change for the better if we all set around in agreement constantly. It wouldn’t be much fun either. However, I think we (and that includes me) can all work to not allow disagreement to turn into hate. We will be much better off as a society, and as individuals, as we work on avoiding such out right hostility/hate.
(Photo used is from Scott M. Liddell and can be found on MorgueFile.com.)
I can’t listen to the vitriol anymore. I start hating to be associated with any group. It isn’t that hard to try to put yourself in another’s shoes for a moment. We may not be able to understand everything about them, but we can try to at least be that person who doesn’t looks beyond the surface.
Cindy,
first of all, thank you for sharing your thoughts about this beautiful quote. My primary goal in life is to be in peace. And as peace is first of all an internal state of being, I love to do “The Work” by Byron Katie. When ever I experience a negative emotion towards someone else or myself, I write down my thoughts and question them. I can´t tell you what a major shift is happening in my life and the lifes of the people who are in my “circle”.
It is always me, who causes the trouble…
Your welcome! I’m glad you liked the work. And I love the way you are trying to work from within. Thank you for stopping by.
Jen, I agree. I think looking beyond the surface is so important. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, it’s time to stop the hate, and I believe that you can find a way to stand up for what you believe without hating others. We must never allow the opinions of others to silence us but always speak the truth in love.
Thanks for this.
~ Ann Covey
Ann, I agree a 100%. You should never give up your own beliefs and we can do that w/o the hate. Thanks for your comments.
Hating others is very counter productive, besides being very wrong. How can we help others if we judge them to the point we build a wall? Our desire should be to help rather than push them away. But for the grace of God, there go I. None of us are immune to falling. Let’s lift others up – the world would be a better place if we all were kind and gracious to others who are different from us or in need.
Val, great points. If people feel we are judging them, they are not going to want our help. And will be very untrusting. Thank you for your comments.
Yes I totally agree, Cindy. Hatred is such an all-consuming, non-serving emotion. If we could all be more allowing towards others, the world would be a more peaceful place. We don’t have to agree with another person’s view or share another’s religious belief, but we can just allow them to be what they want to be without leaping into judgement or anger which leads to hatred. Great post, thought-provoking, thank you
Your welcome! And thank you for sharing your comments, Andrea. Hatred can be so all-consuming and so counter-productive. I totally agree.
I very much agree. It seems like there are people who are addicted to the adrenalin rush they get from hate. It’s a dangerous, self-destructive addiction.
I sometimes think I miss the days of Emily Post, when the “rules” for civil behavior were laid out for everyone to learn.
Visiting you from UBC blogboost on G+. Happy Tuesday. 🙂
I don’t think the rules of civil behavior have not changed. People are just much more willing to ignore them. Like you Theresa, I wish that would change. Thanks for your comments.
Hate as powerful an emotion as love. One destroys the other encourages and builds. One is easy the other difficult. Thank you for these words of encouragement for us to pause and consider which path we are choosing. I hope I always choose the difficult path and love those who are hard to love and yet I know that I fall more often than I wish to count to the easy and let the seeds of hate start and untended grow into weeds that I must once again pull from my life.
Lori, thank you for your comments. I totally agree about the power of both emotions. That’s why it’s so important we work to move away from the hate.