We live in a world where hate is the driving force. We live in a world where you are not free to love, but it is okay to hate.
It hurts me to see people attack each other because their opinions differ.
What’s wrong with coexisting? With living next to your neighbor that is a different gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, political party? How are they infringing on your rights as a human being by coexisting as your neighbor? How are you infringing on theirs?
I experienced bias against race, gender, and religion growing up, and I now see bias against sexual orientation against friends and family. The bias wasn’t just seen growing up in the Deep South like I did. I saw it north of the Mason-Dixon line, and I saw it from my own family. I saw it when I would visit India with my family, and wonder, how could a country be under British rule for hundreds of years and discriminate against their very own?
It hurts me to allow those injustices to coexist in my presence.
Let’s do better. Make an effort. Show some empathy. Put yourself in the shoes of someone you find you have differences with.
Some departing thoughts:
The moment bigotry becomes patriotism, America is no longer America. ~ House of Cards (character of Ibrahim Halabi)
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred. ~ Mohandas K. Gandhi
Sravanthi Meka 