Only Love Can Conquer Evil In An Evil World | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Only Love Can Conquer Evil In An Evil World

If we continue to try and combat wickedness with malice acts, slowly we will forget what it is we are fighting for in the first place.

Stacey Booth
May 30, 2017
Illinois State University
203
Only Love Can Conquer Evil In An Evil World
Johnny Nguyen

It’s not hard to recognize the hate and evil that flood the world we live in. Turn on the news, read a newspaper, or flip on the radio. It won’t take long before you find yourself questioning humanity, or the lack thereof. Innocent people are being blown up at concerts. Guiltless teenagers are being shot because of their skin color. Murders are being committed because of religion. Pain, loss, tragedy, and evil are becoming the headlines of our daily lives.

I often feel as though I have no power to fight the hate this planet is facing. Such soul-wrenching destruction seems much too vast to get a grasp on. As much as I desperately wish I could, I can’t stop a terrorist from strapping a bomb to their chest and walking into a crowd. I can’t predict when someone will step into a room and begin shooting at innocent souls. I can’t eliminate all racism in this world and magically eradicate all prejudice. I don’t have the ability to control the hate in this world, but I do have the ability to control the hate in my life. Waking up and choosing to treat others with love, kindness, grace, and compassion is something that will continually be in our control.

It’s time to take a stand. It’s time to stop setting streets on fire to fight hate. It’s time to stop yelling, cursing, and demeaning one another to get our point across. If we continue to try and combat wickedness with malice acts, slowly we will forget what it is we are fighting for in the first place. We have a choice, and I urge you to choose love.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wake up in the morning and love your family. Pray for the people who have hurt you. Be kind to the waiter even when they get your order wrong. When someone slaps you in the face, turn the other cheek. Serve without any expectation of receiving something in return. Smile at a stranger. Forgive someone you never thought you could. Let that person go ahead of you in the grocery line. Pay for the meal of the car behind you. We cannot change the world with hate, but we can change the lives around us with love. Fill others to the brim with love, kindness, grace, and compassion and watch as we choose to change the headlines from evil to hopeful.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

6 Unrealistic Expectations Society Has For Young Adults

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

University of Dayton
2388
boy in adult clothes

Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

Keep Reading...Show less
young adults
Lifestyle

20 Reasons Why Pizza Is Basically Everyone's Best Friend

Seriously, who wouldn't love pizza?

Ball State University
2279
pizza
Fandango

There are a lot of foods in this world, but there is only one dish that stands above the rest: Pizza. If you're close to me or at least know who I am, then you know that I'm totally obsessed with pizza. It's one of my favorite things to eat and I will NEVER turn down a slice, even if it doesn't have my favorite toppings. There isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about pizza. I even sleep with a pizza pillow every night! There are many reasons why pizza stands above all other foods, and here are just a couple reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
pizza
Swoon

Why I Love Being Single (And You Should, Too)

Dedicated to February 14

Truman State University
24887
sex and the city
Warner Bros. Television

1. You don't have to feel guilty about flirting with customers for tips (or just for shits and giggles).

2. You can be obnoxiously flirtatious with anyone you want. You are free to be that girl that flirts with everybody and makes 'em all smile (it's especially fun when the guy is as cute as Collin Jost). No shame.

3. Making random men nervous with your superior beauty and intense eye contact just for the hell of it is really amusing and empowering.

4. No one gives two poops if ya legs are hairy (your man shouldn't either but *Kermit the Frog meme* That's none of my business)

5. The toilet seat will remain down.

6. There's more money to spend on yourself.

7. There's always this secret butterfly in your tummy that marvels at the possibility that when you go out this weekend you're gonna meet someone super handsome/wonderful/prince-like and have this moment of dazzling dalliance.

8. Nothing is that serious...you can take it all with a grain of salt...you don't owe anybody anything.

9. You can dance with anyone and everyone...or no one (Hello frat boi w/ glasses, I see you).

10. You don't have to fluff anyone's ego but your own.

11. Free drinks and dinners from single guys (It's not taking advantage if they're offering; a girl's gotta eat).

12. You have more time to learn how to love and improve yourself rather than constantly pouring your energy into another person.

13. You don't have to sacrifice your cheesy Jen Aniston rom-coms and Gilmore Girls for his Fast and Furious/other dumb action movie featuring blonde that is only in the movie to supply a relationship to the male lead and to make him look more masculine/empowered in juxtaposition (In other words, you don't have to deal with a guy being a crabby Patty while you watch your cute movies).

14. You can daydream about what your future husband may be doing right now (and not get stressed/guilty out because you're not picturing your current boyfriend that's crazy about you as your future husband).

15. There is more time to be spent with your girlfriends.

single life
Entertainment

How Girls Night Out Turns Into Girls Night In

To go out or not to go out this Friday night...

Washington College
573
Girls Night In
Milk + Blush

We've all been there - you've been saying since Tuesday after French that this weekend is the weekend. You're finally going to break out those new heels and actually put on eyeliner on and make this Friday night be one for the memory books! That is, of course, until Girls Night Out turned into...Girls Night In.

Keep Reading...Show less
night out
Entertainment

What Is Your Zodiac GIF?

Characteristics of the astrological signs, explained through GIFS.

Eastern New Mexico University
879
zodiac
Wordpress

Whether you believe astrology is a legitimate "science" or not, we have all found ourselves looking at our horoscopes from time to time. The 12 astrological signs all fall under one of four elements: air, water, earth, or fire. Air signs are rational, social, and love to communicate with others. Water signs are are emotional, intuitive, and mysterious. Fire signs tend to be passionate, creative, and adventurous. Earth signs are conservative, realistic, and loyal.

Each sign is determined by the relative positions of celestial bodies to ourselves at our moment of birth, which is said to influence our personalities. Find your zodiac GIF below, based on the traits and characteristics provided by each sign.

***Disclaimer: GIFS are meant to be lighthearted and are based on descriptions of signs from http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/.

Keep Reading...Show less
zodiac signs

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments