"For the good of all, I say: Be careful, the brutality of the world must not be more powerful or attractive than love or friendship."
-Elie Wiesel
Hate + Hate = Hate
Hate + Love cancel each other out.
Love + Love = Love
These simple equations hold the answers to all life's problems.
When tragedy happens, it opens up so many avenues for discussion. There are always numerous opinions and theories as to how and why they happened. We often lie in contemplation and wonder asking ourselves the big question, Why?
I think of the people who choose a path of hate and again I ask, Why?
I have no definitive answers. All I know is that answering the call of hate with hate, anger, discrimination, and judgment breeds more hate. I do know this is not the answer.
Love starts with forgiveness and ends in love.
Forgiveness is a big and powerful act. We often don't want to forgive because we equate it to acceptance of our suffering.
Forgiveness is much different though. It is about letting go of anger and moving forward. Anger grows hate and hate creates hate which never ends well.
It is hate where tragedies start and as long as we allow hate to live, more tragedy and acts of hate will happen.
The only thing that can cancel out hate is love. Love starts with us. We must love where we can and how we can. We must look out our front and back doors and find people to love. We must let go of our fear, anger and hate. We must overcome our need to blame.
It will be hard, almost impossible for some. Notice I say almost because it is possible. It is possible to let go and stand above the people of hate. We must offer them love. We must blanket the world in love, forgiveness and kindness. Together we can smother out the fuel that feeds hate. We must.
It starts with us. It starts with each of our individual brands of love. Love is powerful. Love is capable. Love is the weapon against hate.
Don't be angry. Be love. Don't be resentful. Be love.
This act I ask of you is huge. I ask that we all let go of our anger and hate and instead embrace love. As the equations above show, love is the only answer.
Love is the answer.