"Practicing Love in Place of Hate"

Heather Folden
Professor Shen
English 98
2 March 2009

Practice Love in Place of Hate

People falling to their deaths from over a thousand feet above ground, forced to plummet to their death, be burned alive or suffocated because of one groups decision to hate. America was rocked on September 11, 2001 when terrorists took over commercial flights, steering them directly into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, as well as the nations Pentagon, striking fear and rage into the hearts of Americans. This hateful atrocity sparked embers of hate and outrage in the hearts of Americans, as a way to atone for the monumental loss so many endured that fateful September day. Deciding that an “eye for an eye” was the best course of action in defending our nation, war on “who” was not yet clear and still it became inevitable. An alternative for America was, and still is, to respond through love, rather than by reacting with hate. As salvation is not delivered through hate; it is won through a practice and a pledge to love in spite of hate.

By responding to these acts of hate with equal hate and vengeance, rather than out of a place of love and improvement, a continuous slaughter of human life occurs. Horrendously, casualties of the September 11th hate crime totaled 2,974 people (Wikipedia). Since the start of the Iraq War, 2003 till present, Wikipedia reports that the lowest estimation of death tolls is at 90,805 people, and they estimate the highest loss of lives at 1,200,000. This boldly showcases how hate matched with hate can only breed more loss.

However inconceivable it may be to practice love when hate occurs, it is essential for positive progress to be made, and it is also what we teach our children. Practicing love in place of revenge is generally what people teach, starting with elementary students. For example, one might tell a child to walk away when they are hit on the playground, and to go find an adult, who can then facilitate finding the cause behind the perpetrator’s aggression . This scenario is meant to diffuse harm that might occur in the present situation, as well as the future, by simply seeking a loving path. Americans made a choice to “hit” back out of fear. Instead, a different choice could have been made to focus on positive progress to find out the cause of the extremist behavior and sequentially spending war money on education, or social improvement like health care. Although a loving path was perhaps inconceivable at the time due to searing anger, it was most likely a more productive way of saving lives in the long run.

When the towers fell, although there was a surge of love from a nation to its wounded brothers and sisters, there was a rise in hate crimes on American soil against Muslim Americans. Ignorantly, people that looked “middle-eastern” were reportedly the victims of abuse verbally, as well as physical assaults. One account includes the firebombing of a Hindu temple and the murder of a man named Balbir Singh Sodhi, who was fatally shot because of the way he looked (Wikipedia).

In contrast, the Muslim American community displayed a reaction based in love, asking for fellow Muslims to “come forward with their skills and resources to help alleviate the sufferings of the affected people and their families”. They also responded with love by way of financial donations, blood drives, providing medical assistance, food, and even residence for victims (Wikepidia).

When the Iraq War was waged, there was not enough concern given to all of the women, men, and children who would suffer the blows of America’s retaliation. Consumed by fear, a nation tragically responded with revenge, without considering how many more lives they would lose in the process, on both sides.

Marianne Williamson’s concept of love, and why it’s essential for our survival, is inspiring. She is the author of a book called “Illuminata”, in which she explains, “Hatred itself is the cancer that threatens the survival of the species”(17) and that somehow love “is considered a relevant conversation between a husband and a wife. . .but not between a government and its people. It’s fine for the bedroom but not for the classroom”(19). This truth keeps people from reaching toward a higher goal of communication and living together for the greater good of the preservation of human life. If the choice is made to continue acting and reacting out of hate, rather than striving to practice the principle of love, even in the most inconceivable and difficult moments, the human race has the capacity to simply wipe itself from the face of the earth. Greg Mortenson, author and humanitarian, expresses this very sentiment in his book, “Three Cups of Tea”, when he says, “If we truly want a legacy of peace for our children, we need to understand that this is a war that will ultimately be won with books, not with bombs”(301). An expression of love by way of educating people is definitely a good start in preserving human kind.

Any act of good, concern, generosity, pardon, or forgiveness, springs from the principle of love. Practicing love is feasible in all our affairs. By people forgiving their wives and husbands after an argument, or showing pardon by letting that guy in traffic merge ahead of us, or by laughing at our child dumping spaghetti over her head for the hundredth time, rather than being irritated or staying angry, we are practicing love.

Practicing love on a global scale might come across as overwhelming, however it is this very action that will change our future from one of war to one of peace. On a global scale the foundation of love can be built by making an effort to understand where we may be of service. An example of this is shared by Greg Mortenson, while participating in a Borders Book Club discussion, where he talks about how much it meant for impoverished children in Pakistan to receive pen-pal letters from American children. As they have never received a “gift”, the kind gesture is very valuable to them. Although it may seem like an insignificant action to some, it is love being expressed. And when love is shown, changes can occur. By reaching out across our borders to offer friendship to people across the world, a different future course can be mapped for our world.

When we attempt to love in spite of fear, lives can be saved, and even the most horrific acts can be overcome. Felina Saguil, a reporter, states that, “Sooner or later, you will discover that real success is to be found in loving relationships. . .with your family, friends, strangers, and anyone who crosses your path. . . What lasts is love”(Filipino Reporter). Felina, a supporter of finding love in all situations, makes a strong case for love by stating that “anyone” crossing our path is an opportunity to practice the principle of love. By responding to the events in our life, whether small or large, with love rather than hate, we are in fact successful.

In the end, as human beings we have choices to practice love in place of hate, even when our knee jerk reactions might be to just “hit” back. Americans as a nation have reacted to terror out of fear, rather than respond out of love, thus leading to more death and hate. However, as individuals, the pledge to grow in love can be made through our interpersonal relationships. Try to imagine the world’s religious leaders, sitting around a table playing poker, laughing, happy, and talking about love. Isn’t love what they all teach at the end of the day, anyways?


Works Cited
Mortenson, Greg. Three Cups of Tea. USA: Penguin, 2006.
Williamson, Marianne. Illuminata. New York: Random, 1994.
Saguil, Felina. “Success takes many aspects” Filipino Reporter 6-12 February 2009: Vol. 37, Iss. 9; pg. 29, 1 pgs. ProQuest News & Magazines. ProQuest. Everett Community College, Everett, WA, CO. 28 Feb. 2009