The excerpt below is from William Hazlitt’s “On the Pleasure of Hating” (1826). Read the excerpt carefully. Then write an essay that argues your position on the value—if any—of hatred.
[W]ithout something to hate, we should lose the very spring of thought and action. Life would turn to a stagnant pool, were it not ruffled by the jarring interests, the unruly passions of men. . . . Pure good soon grows insipid, wants variety and spirit. Pain is a bittersweet, which never surfeits. Love turns, with a little indulgence, to indifference or disgust: hatred alone is immortal.
- Respond to the prompt with a thesis that may establish a line of reasoning.
- Select and use evidence to develop and support your line of reasoning.
- Explain the relationship between the evidence and your thesis.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
- Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.
Hatred is not what drives us to goodwill, but rather what drives us to actions of despise. People feel, and react to, hatred in all different ways, but none of them are the right response to the emotion. William Hazlitt said that without hatred, there would be nothing to spur people into action, that there would only be stagnant thought. I believe there is another way for creating action, actions that don’t result from wanting to change something out of hatred, but rather love. By using one’s own true passion provoking action and thought, true hatred is not needed.
ReplyDeleteThe feeling of being so spurned by someone or something is cruel, and most people would resort to hating whoever or whatever hurt them. By only feeling hatred for something, we willingly allow ourselves to put blinders on. We choose to incapacitate ourselves for the fleeting feeling of achieving vengeance. Vengeance will not create a better situation or resolve the problem at hand. You could compare it to war, yes there is fighting, but there must be a drive to sit face-to-face and calmly negotiate with each other. Endless fighting and hatred will achieve nothing but feelings of inflated superiority until a new target is found and the cycle starts all over once again.
Hate is defined in the dictionary as “dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.” If we choose to hate someone, we are choosing to hurt them, in a way we, or them, can’t imagine. We have no control over how we handle ourselves when we let anger get the best of us. How many times do we find ourselves apologizing after an outburst of anger? How many times do we find ourselves hanging our heads in shame because of our actions? If we choose to allow hatred to control us, we allow anger to take root, and what food will that do? Nothing, nothing for you, except a fleeing moment of an inflated ego, nothing for your family, and nothing for society as a whole. But when we use passion, and love, to create action, the world will watch, and the world will learn.
Hazlitt claimed that hatred was needed in our world to turn people to action and progressive thought, but I disagree. I feel that passion is being undermined, passion can drive people to do what they thought they once couldn’t. Passion can create a sense of adrenaline, one that can be used to create action and provoke new thoughts. The idea of needing hatred for achieving one’s idea of change makes them only do what is best for themselves because they have blinders, they are unable to see the big picture. Passion for change allows people to see what they need to do to create change and the best way to do it for all those around them.
Hatred can harm us all more than we believe it does until we feel and see the aftermath. It turns us into a bull, it makes us angry and ready to fight and argue with whoever comes across us, not seeing the destruction until we have calmed down. If we use passion to create thought and provoke action, we no longer need to be worried about what will happen when the blinders go on. Passion will allow us to love what we create and the way we do it, it will allow us to not only affect the present moment but put a lasting mark on the future. That mark may not always be on society, but it will be in the people who watched you gracefully create change. Hatred changes people, for the worse, but passion, passion makes us better.
Audrey, this essay is insightful and convincing. I love how you point out the importance of passion in life and that passion does not equal hate. Awesome work!
DeleteAudrey, you built this essay very well. I liked how you used questions based on the essay to make the audience reflect on themselves. Good job.
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Audrey, this is a great essay! I like how you brought up that vengeance does not solve any problems.
DeleteAudrey, this is a really well written essay. I really liked how you pointed out that we can’t really see the affects of hate until everything is said and done.
DeleteGreat essay audrey! You really nailed it! I like how you said we can’t really see hatreds effects
Delete“Hate is a strong word, but so is love.” William Hazlitt makes his point that hatred is immortal, reiterating over and over that hatred is not only a necessary emotion, but also the superior emotion. While Hazlitt is right that hatred is necessary, hatred simply is not an immortal emotion or superior to love. The world shuns the idea of hatred because it is bold and stereotyped as a negative emotion. However, without hatred, there is no love, as without bad there is no good, for without versatility and extreme emotions there is nothing worth feeling.
ReplyDeleteHatred proves itself to be necessary to the world in many ways. Love is the greatest emotion, but what is love without hate? If “like” is a watered-down version of love and “dislike” is a watered-down version of hate, then a world without hatred is a world without opinions. Beyond this, it would be a world without free will. God gave humans free will, so they could choose to love him. Love is essential in a good relationship with God, but surprisingly so is hatred. Without hatred for the devil and hatred for worldly desires, no one can fully love God. They can only be “lukewarm.” Which is a dangerous position to be in. Without hatred, love loses meaning. Without the presence of the bad, what is the good even worth?
Hatred towards other people is objectively wrong. Most people tend to believe it would be a better world if no one could hate anything. However, a world without hate is not a world with love. A world without hate is bland; it does not know the value of love enough to fully experience it. I have even seen hatred working in my own life in positive ways. When I began advocating for the pro-life movement on my social media accounts, I faced hatred. I faced backlash and was criticized from all directions by people who don’t hate abortion. At first, this was off putting. All I wanted was for everyone to like me, but as soon as I realized that was not possible, everything changed. My purpose in standing up for what I believed is rooted in my hatred for the alternative. I cannot fully love the human race, if I do not hate its downfall.
Hatred is used in politics and the civil rights movements. It may not seem like it, but hatred for injustice is usually the motivating factor in making change. An example of this is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a peaceful civil rights activist. A great man who hated racism and was once hated by the world, so much so that someone killed him. This is an example of how hatred can be the key to change. Of course, MLK loved all people and fought long and hard for equality. Because of his love for people of all races, he hated to see people treated wrongly. His hate for injustice fueled his love for justice. Hatred for an action sparks passion and love for a different action.
All things were created for good reason, even things that are not inherently good. Hatred may not have been created for good, but it is necessary for good to prevail. Hatred plays an essential role in forming passions, upholding a relationship with God, and making changes in the world. Because of all of this, hatred has value in life and is needed for human life to thrive. A world without hatred is a world without love. Is a life without love even worth living?
Gina, your essay was great! I found your second paragraph about how hate is necessary in some instances to be very interesting.
DeleteGreat essay Gina! You made really great points and it was really convincing. Good work!
DeleteI loved reading your essay Gina! The second paragraph relating the emotion of hatred to our God given right of free will was fantastic. Amazing work!
DeleteGina, your essay was good. I liked how you connected the prompt with how God loves each and everyone of us. Good job.
ReplyDeleteGood job gina!! I really loved your essay! It’ was well written!
DeleteAs Pope Francis has proclaimed, “God’s love is unbounded. It has no limits.” As we are all children of God, it is not our job to pass hatred and judgement, but rather love. While hatred is definitely an emotion that is felt by humans, it is never right nor a good idea to act on it. William Hazlitt said, “Without something to hate, we should lose the very spring of thought and action,” while true and unconditional love is the only way to bring this about in a great way. Hatred is not of good value because it sows division, allows no time for thought and discernment, and harms the soul of the individuals.
ReplyDeleteAs we have seen over the events of this past year, hatred sows division. For example, the riots that occurred in both the Black Lives Matter movement and the Capitol Building stemmed from a source of hatred, hatred of the opposite side. When these groups decided to act on this feeling, the division that was already there grew even stronger. As it is visible, these acts of hatred did not get us anywhere, but instead cost human lives. While this hatred did inspire “thought and action,” it is not that thought and action that most human beings yearn for. We yearn for peace and goodness, not anger and hatred.
Hatred also does not allow the opportunity to truly think before acting on it. Going back to the examples of the riots, no one sat down and thought about the best way to handle the situations. No one from the Black Lives Matter riots decided to have a nonviolent protest or have conversations with police from local departments. No one from the Capitol Building riots decided to wait for evidence to come out about voter fraud or have a civil protest. Another example is when someone is angry and does not like someone, so they get into a physical altercation. They probably did not think about handling it peacefully, but let their hatred get the best of them. Many individuals will say that without hatred, there is no love. However, this does not have to be true. This is because hatred only is a feeling, while real love is a choice. This way of thinking should actually be insulting to us. We are humans not animals, so we should be able to control these feelings and our desire to act on them.
Lastly, hatred is not spiritually healthy for individuals. Jesus’s love for us is never ending, and everyone should be striving to be more like him. If we are in this mindset, we should be able to view others as God’s creation instead of as an enemy. Jesus loves the people everyone else looks down on. Hatred also makes people focus on this world instead of Heaven and eternal life, which is extremely dangerous. If Jesus was able to forgive the people who condemned him and nailed him to a cross, why is it so hard for us to set aside our hatred and forgive?
If everyone just stopped for a minute and performed an act of kindness instead of acting out of hatred towards that person, the world would be a much better place. While William Hazlitt seemed to believe that love turns into “indifference and disgust,” hatred can be transformed into love through this philosophy. This feeling of hate results in irrational decisions, damages their spiritual life, and is not worth the disunity it causes.
This is a great essay, Melaina! I found it very intriguing and thought provoking. You are able to convince others of your position. Good Work!
DeleteGreat job on your essay, Melaina! I liked that you introduced your essay with a quote from Pope Francis. I also liked that you used some current events, it really adds to your argument.
DeleteGood job Melaina! I thought the examples you used really made your argument convincing. Great essay!
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ReplyDeleteIn every situation, we are given a choice between love and hate. These two emotions seem to be at a constant battle with each other. William Hazlitt explains that hatred is necessary and without it, the world would turn into a “stagnant pool.” Hatred is usually associated with negativity, but I believe that hate can bring about good in the world as well. Hatred can motivate people to stand up for themselves, increase the appreciation of love, and teach a lesson of strength and honesty with oneself.
Hatred from people around us can bring pain and suffering, but we can also use it as motivation. It is necessary in life that we stand up for ourselves and what we believe in. Hate allows us to stand up for what is right and what we believe is true. Hazlitt says, “without something to hate, we should lose the very spring of thought and action.” If there was no hate, we would lose all motivation and let people walk all over us. If someone were to tell you that your faith was ridiculous, would you just simply sit there and say nothing? Of course not. You would use that as inspiration to defend yourself and ultimately improve your own faith while hopefully bringing them to the light of goodness and truth. Hatred can motivate us to do good things and support what we know is right.
Another way that hatred is necessary in the world is because it makes us appreciate love. It is so important that we are grateful for love, but it is often taken for granted. We do not appreciate the love from our families and friends or our passion for an activity nearly as much as we should. Hate allows us to see that the world is not only love and how lucky we are to experience love everyday. For example, when someone hurts you, you instinctively turn to those who will show you compassion and comfort to make the pain go away. Love would not be expressed as deeply if it was the only emotion present and there was no hate to trigger it. Hate brings us to the realization that love is precious and how blessed we are to be able to experience it.
Hate can also serve as a lesson and help us improve ourselves as human beings. Experiencing hate can help us become stronger and more self aware. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used hate as fuel and fought against it. He knew that he had to be the bigger person, so he showed courage and strength, ultimately improving himself. He faced the truth that he was hated and did something about it. By hating things that are bad or facing hate yourself, we are strengthened and become a better person.
We live in an imperfect world full of people with flaws. We must choose to face hate with positivity and use it to bring good to the world. Hate is necessary for self motivation, appreciating love, and improving yourself. Will you let hatred defeat you, or will you use it to change the world?
Beautiful essay Abby, I enjoyed reading your paragraph about using hate as a way to improve yourself. You expressed your argument fabulously with your evidence. Great job!
DeleteAbby, I really like your essay, and I like how your connect hatred to self-improvement. Your argument was logical, and your reasoning was very easy to follow!
DeleteThe emotions of love and hate guide us throughout life. William Hazlitt is a 19th century writer who touched on the subject within his writing of “ On the Pleasure of Hating.” He argues that “hatred alone is immortal.” There is a value in hatred that can’t be felt from any other emotion. I believe that hatred is a double edged sword that can either cause people to drift apart or draw people closer together.
ReplyDeleteHatred is known to ruin relationships and to cause tension. Hatred is a fuel for desire. The story of Cain and Abel expresses the consequences of true hatred. The brothers both gave a sacrifice to God, and God favored Abel’s sacrifice. With hatred came his feelings of violence. Cain was so filled with hatred towards his brother that he murdered him. Cain then was struck with the burden of becoming a wanderer and could no longer work. The hatred that Cain felt tore apart his family. The hatred destroyed Cain’s once-bright future. Is hatred worth destroying relationships for? Is it worth risking your future for? This Bible story represents how hatred can bring out the worst in people and is not needed in order to live a fulfilling life, as it could easily lead you in the wrong direction.
Nonetheless, hatred has also been known to draw people together. During the 1930’s, the United States of America was experiencing the Great Depression. The stock market was low and many families had reached poverty. The struggling country found its way back to success after entering World War II. The strong hatred towards Nazi Germany caused many Americans to take part in the war effort. Families planted victory gardens to feed soldiers, conserved energy, and donated scrap materials to the military. Women joined the workforce and almost every factory was distributing ammo or weapons to the military in a short amount of time. This mass production of military supplies resurrected the American economy and created an American bond that was widespread throughout the country. Hatred was the propelling factor that resulted in the Allied victory in World War II. The common hatred during the war was a useful tool to create a society that was efficient, caring, and strong.
Through hatred, people can either be torn apart or can garner a sense of unity. Hatred is a fuel for change, whether positive or negative. It is necessary to choose the correct way to express hatred. Will you devalue yourself or will you bond with others for change? Will you become a wanderer, or will you help the war?
Hope, I really like your argument, and I found your line of reasoning easy to follow and you made many logical points. Well done!
DeleteGreat essay hope! The example are very relavant and fit the topic nicely.
DeleteHope, this is a very well written essay. I really like how you ended with rhetorical questions. I also liked the examples that you used.
DeleteEmotions are a difficult concept to grasp. Many individuals find that they cannot discern their own emotions at times. Two of the strongest emotions known to humanity are love and hate. Hate is a strong emotion, as is love, and without them both, the world would be a drastically different place. Both emotions have very different roles in society, but they balance each other out and create a balance.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, without love, the world would be a scary place, and people would be borderline animalistic; however, people would fight for what they think and what they feel to deserve and attempt to eliminate the thing in which they hate most. Secondly, without hatred, love can never be as intense, and many people would become complacent with the way things are. Without hatred, there is nobody to fight for civil rights and equality for everyone, and love almost becomes dull because there is nothing to challenge it. Together, the emotions create a balance in which people can be happy within their societies, yet strive for change and positive reform. Sadly, not every situation is handled in the best way, which can lead to further unrest, but everything always looks out in the end.
In the text, Hazlitt confirms that without hatred all incentive for action and change is lost. Additionally, Hazlitt states that hatred alone is immoral, which means that hatred in combination with other emotions, directed in the right way can be very beneficial to society. Love can make hatred more bearable for others, and can allow others to meet on similar grounds and compromise to abolish or fix something that is hated by many. This balance of interaction is crucial to a functioning democratic society that seeks to uphold basic morals and ensure equal rights.
Both emotions can cause harm to the individual, especially when excess and when by themselves; however, both emotions can cause a variety of good for society and are completely necessary for a variety of reasons. They help further society and bring people together. Without either emotion, the world would descend into chaos.
Overall, it is crucial that love and hatred are kept in balance with each other. They are important emotions for individuals, and they are some of the defining characteristics of humanity. Without them, we would not be where we are today, and no progress of any kind would be made.
Great essay Audrey! I love that you mention the needed balance between hate and love.
DeleteNice essay! I like how you showed the strengths and weaknesses of hate, but still proved that if used correctly, hate is a force of good.
DeleteHatred can be a detrimental thing. Throughout history hatred has filled books with death and despair. But without hate, can love exist? Whiteout dark, how do we know when there’s light? Hate can help us see the good in things, hatred can spark change and can be motivation to do better.
ReplyDeleteHatred is not a good thing in and of itself. Although, there are many things that can become of hatred. If there is always good in the world we won’t be able to appreciate what we have. As an example, I used to work as a cashier for a nutrition shop. I received hatred from customers, bosses, and other coworkers. The work place was not a happy one to be in. I stayed there for months. When I finally got a new job I began to realize how much hatred was confined in the e shop walls. In my new workplace I was treated with respect and my boss is one of the kindest people I have ever met. From my experience with hatred I have learned to appreciate what I have. It is a constant reminder of how lucky and great duo I should be to have such a good job.
Hatred can change the ways we view things and can promote change. If people don’t have hatred for the way things are changed could never come about. If the people in the early United States didn’t hate that they couldn’t harvest while the sun was up earlier, daylight savings time would never happen. If people didn’t hate living in filth would sanitation methods ever happen? A hatred for something can motivate a change in the lifestyle we have today to improve it.
Hate can sometimes help us want to do better. When I am standing in the field of my soccer game there’s only one thing I’m thinking about. Either, I love that we are winning or, I hate that I’m losing. The hate that losing gives me drives me to try harder and do better. It gives me something to work for. If I didn’t have a hatred for losing I wouldn’t love winning so much. If we didn’t have hatred, the desire for something other than hatred wouldn’t be a driving factor.
Hatred shouldn’t be praised in any way. History has shown us the downfalls of hatred and how it destroys people. Hatred can have negative impacts but it can also have benefits. It can help the appreciation of the things we love, it can move the world, and it can increase the desire to do better.
Good essay! I liked how you showed that hate allowed you to grow as a person as well as see the world in new perspectives.
DeleteGood essay! I liked how you talked about how hatred for something caused you to be appreciative of something else.
DeleteGreat essay Lani, you did a good job of using love to justify the need for hate. Really good perspective.
DeleteBeing trapped in a small box is uncomfortable, so the first move someone will make is to break out. They are able to break out because they hated their situation, and strived to change it. Hatred is uncomfortable, it is an emotion nobody likes to feel. Everyone wants to feel comfortable, so people become motivated to change their situation. Hatred is a valuable feeling because it motivates people to make change for the better.
ReplyDeleteEqual rights entails love, but it was ironically started by hatred. Were black people happy with being unable to vote? Were they happy to see their friends and family members lynched for no reason? Of course not! They fought for change by protesting and letting the nation know they had a voice. If they had accepted those injustices, they would be suffering to this day. They hated being unable to cast their voice, they hated being spat upon, and they hated seeing their loved ones killed without reason. These injustices trapped them in the small box, and rather than let their oppressors seal it, they just burst right through the lid because it was uncomfortable. Black Americans hated their oppression, and that hatred led them to face it head on rather than accept their fate, leading to a more equal America.
Everyone hates failing. People want to be perfect, and while failure is an essential part of learning, who still wants to fail to begin with? Who wants to be the person who got last place in the race, or got the lowest score on the test, or have the least amount of money? Everyone hates not having. The thought of having less knowledge, less money, or less friends than others makes you feel less. In the competitive world we live in, people who are less get casted to the side. People who are casted away are reminded of their inferiorities, and hate themselves for being worse than everyone. People at the top hate being at the bottom, and will continue to work hard out of hating the bottom, and those at the bottom will work hard because they hate themselves for being stuck at the bottom. Hatred gives people motivation to work so they will not become, or no longer be, their worst fears.
Hatred is important because without it, you would be accepting of everything. You do not realize what it is like to lose something essential until you actually lose it. If you did not hate anything, you would not have resentment towards: abortion, racism, rape, child abuse, and other horrible crimes. Hate is valuable because it would be impossible to stand for your beliefs otherwise. In a world where people are not morally aligned, you cannot afford to just agree with everyone, unless you want your beliefs to completely die out. Hatred gives you the strength to fight against the malicious causes others support. The world is not a perfect place, and it is certainly not a world that is in perfect sync either. Hatred gives us the motivation to stand for our causes, and vanquish the ones that are morally wrong.
At first glance, hatred only seems like a negative feeling, but it is actually very beneficial. Hatred inspires change because it is uncomfortable, and nobody wants to be restrained by it. Nobody wants to become who they fear, and hatred towards that fear will motivate us to work harder. Hatred also gives us the ability to stand against what is wrong. Hatred is a powerful emotion because it reminds us of pain, but that pain is what brings out the best in us.
This was really good Tanner! I really liked your opening with the box and how you made it connect to the rest of the essay.
Delete“Without something to hate, we should lose the very spring of thought and action.” In 1826, William Hazlitt wrote an excerpt about hate. I believe that hate is a powerful emotion and that it can draw people together or tear them apart.
ReplyDeleteHate is a very powerful emotion that causes us to act the way we should not. Sometimes when we feel hatred, we do not take a step back to calm down. Instead, we act on it right away and end up doing something that we regret. When news broke that Lee Harvey Oswald killed President John F. Kennedy, people all over America hated him for killing their president. Jack Ruby acted on this feeling of hatred, and he killed Oswald while he was in custody. His reasoning for killing Oswald was to protect the world from this even man. Jack acted on his emotions too soon, without taking a step back and thinking. Even though hate is a very powerful emotion, it causes love to be a stronger emotion. In a world where hate exists all around us, when love comes around, it makes us appreciate it a lot more.
When most people think of hatred, they think of people who have wrong them. Hatred is a strong emotion that can either bring people together or tear them apart. In my family, hatred has caused a separation between my uncle and the rest of my family. My uncle and his family chose to move away and only visit once a year if we are lucky. My family has been deprived of precious time with my cousins, whom I rarely see. The situation that started it all had tried to be resolved, but with all that has happened, I feel like it can never be fixed. Even though hatred splits apart people, it can also bring them together. When a school shooting occurs, there is so much hate, but there is also so much love. The students and parents become very angry with the person who decided to attack innocent students and children. Even though this is a terrible situation, it brings the community closer together. Without this happening, people would not be able to get through this tough time. After 9/11 people felt fear and hate. They felt fear because two very important buildings were attacked and many people were killed. Those who lost their loved ones and many others felt hatred towards those who committed this awful crime. The people in New York had to come together as a community to help them cope with what had happened. This helps them build a stronger relationship with one another. We have a choice to let hate ruin or strengthen our relationship with others.
Even though it may not seem like it, hate affects us every day. This strong emotion can affect our relationship with others in a positive or negative way. Hate is a natural emotion that everyone feels from times to time, but it matters how we act with this feeling. How will you act when you feel hatred?
There can be no love without hate. Is that really true? Can there be a world where without the presence of hate love has no room to flourish. Surprisingly the answer is yes. There can be no love without hate. It’s sort of like there can be no light without dark or warmth without cold; if you don’t know the feel of one you won’t recognize the feel of another. Without hatred no one would know what love is, the excitement and joy you feel when someone tells you I love you would be lost, and feelings would be a jumbled mess. Hatred although a terrible feeling is a necessity in human life.
ReplyDeleteNo one likes being hated, it’s a feeling that causes anxiety and insecurity and overall can put a person in a crummy situation. Hatred causes us to do things we shouldn’t. How many people are separated today? Either by hatred or misunderstandings? Politics are a jumbled mess; seemingly straightforward issues such as covid relief strategies, have turned into political stunts where one side will refuse to send aid to certain cities or sountries. In fact the issue is so bad people are refusing the vaccine because of the lies they heard political leaders spew about them. Thats millions of lives at stake. So why after all this is hatred necessary? You cant feel love without hate. If everyone was nice and kind to you all your life you would loose your sense of joy. What’s the point of appreciating someone’s actions if theyer a constant in your life anyway? What’s the point of thanking someone for opening the door if someone is always there to do it? Feelings would be muddled and people would become numb to a variety of emotions. It’s in the absence of good that we really appreciate the good done towards us. We cant have one without the other.
In conclusion people cant live without the bad. It’s impossible for us to truly understand the good without having feeling terrible at least once in a while. So don’t choose to do wrong but choose to surprise someone by doing something good.
In Proverbs 10:12, it states, “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.” While hatred may cause arguments and issues, it also is needed in the world for many aspects of life. As William Hazlitt says in his essay, “On the Pleasure of Hating”, “Without something to hate, we should lose the very spring of thought and action.” In this, Hazlitt explains that hatred is a needed quality of life because it brings a sense of balance, learning, and change in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe first way that hatred proves to be a necessity in today’s society is through the sense of maintaining a balance. Just like we constantly have to be balancing good versus evil, we also must keep a balance between love and hate. These two concepts cannot exist without each other, they work together to create an equal peace - similar to the yin and yang symbol. As Hazlitt says in his essay, “love turns to indifference or disgust”, meaning that without hate in the world, love is going to become overpowering and not have any effect on society anymore. The balance between love and hatred helps to bring forth a realization that love is precious.
The second way that hatred is shown to be a major aspect of the functionality of a society is through the idea of learning from the past. Hatred can bring lessons, they just may not be extremely prevalent. For example, hate against someone because of their religion could teach the world that we need to unite to be able to fully practice faith as we choose. A more specific example of this is the situation in France where Muslim girls under the age of 18 and prohibited from wearing a hijab, which is a complete disrespect to that key part of their faith. This situation brings forth the lesson that this hate against these girls should spark a fire for change in everyone.
The final way that hatred proves to be a necessity is because of the change it can spark. For example, the hatred against people of color sparked a movement in the 60s and then again in the last year. These movements were a necessary change against hate. Without hate, these movements either would have not happened or been left unheard. Hate is a spark of change and without change, the world becomes boring.
Overall, hatred is an awful concept but it is necessary for balance, lessons, and change. Society cannot function without a sense of hatred, even though it changes some for worse.
Great essay Jackie. You really summed up your argument well and proved your points through great evidence.
DeleteHatred, by definition, is an emotion that is not beneficial to either party; the hated or the hater. When humans let overpowering emotions take too much control, whatever the situation may be, it will inevitably end horribly and abruptly. Just as love can take control over a person's life, hate will do the same. The feeling of hatred can make one feel like destructive actions are justified, and their goals get intertwined with plans of revenge. The results of a hate filled “victory” have never yielded as promising results as ones achieved through love. Hate is a short term winner.
ReplyDeleteHatred can cause humans to act in ways that do not necessarily match their character. It can give people a false sense of reality, where they justify their hateful actions with broken lines of reasoning made up in their own heads. Hate is too powerful of an emotion to let take control of our lives. This holds true in politics, where we let everybody but ourselves decide what our likes and dislikes are. Hate turns republicans against democrats. People will turn against half of the population just because they “hate democrats.” How does a society continue to properly function with a constant divide among the people caused by intentional hate? Hate does not justify the divide we see in America today, and it is avoidable if everyone would think for themselves, and not let hate take control.Hateful actions are being justified instead of corrected.
Anybody who competes loves to win, and the best feeling is when you love the activity. However, oftentimes people will find themselves competing to beat other people, rather than compete against their best self. A hatred towards an opponent in a baseball game, or even a business rival, can cause the individual to act not for themselves, but rather against the other person. Acting against someone through hate is not only a bad approach, it also yields even worse results.
A victory through hate will never produce results as promising as a victory through love. In technology, where business icons compete against each other, rather than compete against their best selves, they find themselves in stalemates. It is a constant back and forth game of one side one upping the other, and vise versa. However in a situation where one is passionate about his occupation, and has a true love for the benefits his or her work has on society, their product and innovation is always visibly better than the preceding situation. Take Elon Musk, who has a true love for his occupation, and works tirelessly, not to compete with rivals, but rather to be the best version of himself. It is no surprise that he is extremely successful. A love for what you're doing, regardless of the situation, will always yield better results than that of a hate for who you're competing against.
Hatred is not a necessary emotion to have a functioning society, or even a well rounded society. Everything that hatred can achieve, love and passion can achieve better. It is a short term emotion that causes irrational actions and produces poor results. These irrational actions are then justified by either the person or a group who shares a common hatred. When hatred is completely eradicated, then we will truly see a well functioning society.