20 Comments
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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

And that is exactly why I am a pacifist despite being a 6'3" 250lbs bearded long hair dude practicing fit boxing! Violence is never the correct answer ... it might be the only one left in very narrow sets of circumstances, but it is never the right one.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Yup, and it never works either. All it does is make things worse, every time. Thanks Luc! I instantly got hate mail on this article, I must have done something right :)

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Luc Arnaud Dunoyer's avatar

You mean you already got direct messages from haters?!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Yup! I got a comment blasting me which I deleted :) I'm used to it.

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

Wow, just wow.

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Really old man!'s avatar

Remember that hate destroys the vessel that carries it!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Yes.

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

How did you get so smart?! Love your empathy and how you channel it. Thank you. I must admit, I have never hated anyone until recently. I’m not sure what to do with this emotion as it is new to me. I have no plans to enact violence though.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you :) I've felt less hate lately and more sadness.

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

Me too.

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Robin E Ervin's avatar

So true and well said. Hate can not drive out hate only love conquer hate. One lit candle dispels the darkness. Let us all shine a candle of love and hope wherever we are.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Well said.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Good-and-evil absolutes only work in fictional media. But out here we have to work to understand the complications. Or, at least, those of us who want to do the work.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

It gives us something to write about certainly!

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Robert A Mosher (he/him)'s avatar

I can only theorize that kicking down makes them feel lifted up

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Walter Rhein's avatar

It's a false/temporary high at best, that's why they have to keep kicking

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Gene Wood's avatar

Truth ! Put goodness out to the universe and will come back to you stronger than ever ..

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Maura Torkildson's avatar

I believe some hatred starts with self hatred and then is projected onto others. That form is often based in shame. Vengeful hatred is grief, unprocessed and overwhelming. Hatred may be a trauma response, people believe it protects them, even though it doesn’t. None of this is healthy or helpful, as you so deftly point out.

Today is Thanksgiving. I am thankful for your thoughtful writing, as always.

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Georgia Patrick's avatar

Indeed, Walter. Motivated by love with life experience that shows me what healthy boundaries look like. I don't look externally for blame and therefore, do not fancy that someone external will "fix" whatever the issue is. Hatred serves nobody and always backfires on you. Rage and strength, on the other hand, works well if a bully tries to cross the line with no good intentions.

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Allen Moody's avatar

You could have said the same thing with a tenth of the words you used. As a result in today’s social reality I’ll bet your losing 90% of potential readers/followers

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