Hate List

“If you start by hating one or two people, you won’t be able to stop. Pretty soon you’ll hate a hundred people.”

“A zillion?”

“Even a zillion. A little hatred goes a long, long way. It grows and grows. And it’s hungry.”

—Jerry Spinelli, (Love, Stargirl)

As hungry as a Blue Whale? Or an elephant? Maybe both of them put together? Damn, it’s even hungrier.

The world’s going through a bizarre phase (I hope it’s a phase). Shootings, bombings have become commonplace! Who would’ve imagine we would come to this. Did you think that we’d ever come to this?

Maybe if we spent our dough on food and schools instead of tanks and guns, things would’ve turned out differently. I don’t understand, why don’t these so-called peace-loving-humane countries outlaw weaponry? Just shut the damn factories down, you morons. Can’t you see grenades aren’t helping anybody?

And for God’s sake, don’t hide in your expensive suit and talk about the starving children of Syria. You look disgusting. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ew.

So much for human rights, so much for peace.

Yesterday it was Munich. Today it’s Kabul. Tomorrow? Nowhere, I hope.

Were we thrown into this giant orb to breed hatred? Did we come here to torture ourselves and one another? Were we born to hate, and to be hated?

No. Despite the mindless commotion around me, I’d like to believe in love. Love isn’t easy, but it’s strong. It’s a decision. An argument. A promise. My promise, to the world around me. I’ll not hate even if you give me utterly compelling reasons to do so. Try me.

And to the black, white, brown, red, orange, this-color, that-color, homophobic, transphobic, this-phobic, that-phobic people in the world: Do NOT hate what you don’t understand. We don’t have to agree with one another to be kind to one another.

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