There’s a quote from Nelson Mandela that says, "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." Furthermore, the Bible verse John 4:20 states, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” While I believe that indifference is the opposite of love, not hate, I still must agree with the main part of Mandela's quote: No one is born to hate. In order for an individual to feel hate, they first have to learn how to hate. This is a sentiment shared by many in both the past and in the future of human life.
Especially in an era such as this, where reactionary times are far quicker than they were in the past, media is a business that tends to push a certain agenda over the truth and preach in whatever direction they’re told to and from whatever side they are placed. It’s a shame. No matter what the fact is, this idea that there should be hatred based on a religion, ethnicity, gender, sexuality…it’s all a facsimile that we’ve fallen prey to. There’s so much value harbored in each individual person, but people will deliberately turn a blind eye towards the good qualities in someone to find the bad. It's what they have been taught to do. While there is a scientific reason for this, it doesn’t change the fact that we cannot simply forgo the positives of a human being because of the negatives they hold.
Specialist on child development Louise Derman-Sparks has stated three major issues in regard to children holding biases toward others who are “different." Spark's belief is that it starts very young, not when the child is first born but it can be noted around preschool age where these biases are being portrayed, presumably taught and engraved by guardians and other influences. We shouldn’t judge a person based on their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, etc. because then we miss an amazing opportunity to connect with another human being.
A friend of mine recently pointed out to me that I say, “I love that person” about a lot of people. He told me, “You can’t love every person you meet.” Yes, you can. The Bible calls us to do so as John 4:20 iterates. But not even I’ve managed that. I’ll be honest–there are people that I struggle to find the positive in, yet, for the most part, it’s what I strive to search for. Even if it’s a small thing that many may find as insignificant, it’s wildly great for me. Honestly, you could be straight, gay, lesbian, black, Asian, Muslim, Christian, and Catholic–I don’t mind. There’s something that makes you tick, dreams you have, lives you’ve touched and it’s what I’d like to know about you.
It’s something I love hearing from people: The things they love. Granted, I may have an interest in a lot of things in various fields (so hard to stick to a major), so I can talk about most of these, but there’s so much to learn from each one of them. Everyone should try to learn to look for positives in people, even when there are seemingly glaring negatives and I believe you’ll feel more positive and see a beauty in people you never have before. Learn to love, and ignore the teachings that have driven you to hate. Life is too short for that, my friends.
