Do you "hate" anyone?
Why?
My Dad once, when I was discussing what my benefits would be if I tried to do a particular thing, responded that I should never consider "what I would make or accomplish" as a first question. "What do you mean?" was my response. He said, "first, ask what is the cost or the effort needed, then ask if you have the time, effort or the money and if you can afford to lose the time, effort or money. If the answer is that you can't, then don't bother with the consideration of what you might gain...you can't afford it."
If one considers his or her "hates" it is likely that the "why" has very little to do with the soul or essence of the person, but is about fear of the effect on the hater of the beliefs or the actions of the person they claim to hate. And the basis of the fear is immaterial; it can be behavior (speeding down your road) or politics (favoring policies you find threatening) or something else.
Hatred also reveals a mind out of control, under the influence of the "flight or fight" emotional response that drowns all trace of logic and inevitably leads to unfortunate consequences.
All homo sapiens are of "mixed" instincts and behaviors. The worst of criminals or psychopaths has performed some (perhaps singular) act of kindness or goodness, while even those among us who we consider "saint-like" or "good" has some secret (again, perhaps merely a singular) act that is sinful or abhorrent. All or nothing appellations are simply doomed to be inaccurate...and inaccuracy of judgement leads to bad decisions and unwanted consequences.
Also...hatred, when exhibited, demeans the hater and demeans and brings disrespect on his or her beliefs or arguments. It is not attractive. And it is never productive.
Perhaps the next time you think, or say, "I hate him (or her)," it would be well to pause and consider what is causing you to be fearful or threatened. Is it an actual act by the person? Is it something they believe, or something or some action that they support? Because that same person may also be in favor of any number of things that you also favor and see value in...if you hate the person, you are hating those things too. That is illogical and flawed reasoning, so it would be well to think it through.
Hatred displaces logic and loses arguments on the merits. When someone with whom we are arguing starts calling you names or resorts to swearing, that person has lost the argument and fear of that has directed him or her to insults rather than reason. Hatred is just an extreme extension of the same.
Our lives on this earth are short enough. Do any of us really have enough time to waste on "hating?" Frankly, I pity those that "hate" and just refuse to spend time listening to or spending time with them. Many can argue, disagree, discuss and even if unconvinced can still respect each other and be civil...perhaps even be friends...even while honoring differences in our lives and minds, and those are the people I want to be around. How about you?
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