To hate, a word filled with such negativity, such a gut wrenching force of contempt, that it feels like an impossible feat to accomplish and yet it sits lurking in the shadows of the world that we live in. Hatred an emotion that almost seems untouchable yet evidently is and was so real. But how does a society use this as a mantra to stand tall?
We are not born hating; we learn how to hate, so how are we able to acquire such an insurmountably harmful state that creates unsteadiness in the world? Some say it is fuelled by ignorance, a lack of understanding, but most often fear is said to be at the source of this consuming feeling and yet I sit here pondering what could push one into such a place, a place filled with such extreme hatred that you are filled with the sense that it is your duty to act on it. After all, some of the most grotesque leaders, Trujillo, Hitler, Mengistu – to name but a few, have sought out such extreme measures in fulfilling the duty that is their hate -
Nevertheless, the hope that remains is that hatred has always been overcome by love, I don’t mean that gushing feeling inside of you that makes you do silly things, but rather the feeling that is at its very basic a simple respect and adoration for humanity and life. It’s the simple caring for another human being and wanting them to have the choices and rights that should belong to all by virtue of being born. As far as I’m concerned that is love at its lowest form and a love we should all believe in and protest for. However, it seems that even at its most basic form, with the most simple of demands it heads of state are struggling to show this to the people it governs and even the people are struggling to show it to themselves. Nevertheless as the saying goes for as long as there is life there is hope, not hate, and so there is the hope that love will always prevail.
Femi