Hate

The definition of hate is an intense dislike for someone. That is the polite definition. Hate is a lot more than dislike. Hate is jealousy, looking at others as inferior, and simply fearing that which is different from ourselves. The things people hate about others are the things that they fear within themselves.

Hate has been increasing all around the world especially during the pandemic. It’s in the news daily. Ironically, the fear of COVID and all that it causes to our health and lives have contributed to the rise in hate, especially against Asians because people fear the virus which is thought to have originated in China. Of course, China is just one segment of Asia, but hate doesn’t make distinctions. People who hate simply lump distinctive people together. For them, it is easier to focus their hate on a single group of people. For those who hate. China equals Asia and thus the virus which they fear.

Humans have the capacity for aggression as well as compassion, but hate is learned and a choice. The solution to hate is being compassionate. But those who hate other people do not have self-compassion. The difficulty is that we can only demonstrate compassion to others when we are able to have compassion for ourselves.