While reading the chapter titled Emerson's Savants in the book Blessed Unrest, I was really struck by all the connections between famous figures in history. Emerson was an influence on Thoreau, and Thoreau an influence on Ghandi, and down the line to Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Though Emerson did not agree with all of the actions that Thoreau took, he nonetheless was a huge part of what Thoreau believed was right and what needed to be done. It really was fascinating to see how they all seemed to lead into the next one's actions and lives.
Anyway, that isn't really what I wanted to talk about in my blog tonight. I want to talk about hate. Hate, one of the strongest emotions in the human spectrum, in my opinion at least. The old saying that hate is such a strong word is undeniably true. When someone uses the word hate, it is in anger, in fear, other very strong and also very negative emotions. I don't like to use the word hate, nor do I like to hear it out of other people's mouths. Honestly, it takes way too much out of you to hate another human being. It is literally exhausting. I feel that the word should never be used. People do terrible things, and people hurt one another, but to hate someone is to let them hurt you more than they have already. Hating someone gives them a certain power over you, because you are consumed with this feeling. You avoid seeing them, talking to them, thinking about them...they have control over your life. Hate can also lead to other destructive actions and behaviors, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, destruction of property leading to loss of life...in a word, revenge. Mr. Washington was very wise when he said the above quote. And it only makes sense for a man as great and as peaceful as Martin Luther King Jr. to have quoted him in one of his famous and inspirational speeches.
I am not saying that we all have to love one another. Humans are not going to love everyone they meet. I don't think it's in our wiring. But don't hate. Live your life, move on and spread as much love as you can. And if someone comes along that rejects that love, move on. Love is such a strong and enduring emotion. We need more optimism, more positive feelings in this world.
I totally agree with you that the word hate is a very terrible word. It is one thing to dislike someone, but it is a whole new world when you say you "hate" someone. I think people now days have been using this word like it means nothing. There are so many people going around saying "I hate this, or I hate that." No one seems to understand the true meaning of hate, until they are put in a situation where people hate them.
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