There is no Love, Only Hate
Alex’s “This I Believe” podcast
I believe there is no love…only hate. Today, we live in a world of violence and hate. Terrorists are everywhere, killing themselves to kill others. Why? I ask myself that very same question a lot. I suppose there is no good reason as to why. Sure, we may have differences in views and the way we live our lives, but is this any reason to develop so much hatred towards another group of people? I certainly do not believe so. Recently I have been asking myself, where is the love? This brings me back to a song released a few years ago by the group, “The Black Eyed Peas,” in which they asked that very question, where is the love? I believe there is no love, only hate.
Not only do we see this hatred in the world of terrorism, we also see it here at home, on a lesser scale, but still we see it none the less. Whatever happened to the days of chivalry? For all the young ladies out there, when was the last time you had a man open a door for you? This is something so small that we don’t even think about it. Growing up I was always told stories about how the “olden days” where so much better. Descriptions of a world in which “please” and “thank you” where not so uncommon, a world in which one referred to their elders as “ma’am” and “sir”, have made me jealous and ashamed to live in this rude world. Where is the love? I believe there is no love, only hate.
Having recently acquired a job at a local fast food restaurant, I have seen the worst of hate filled people. Is there any patience in this world today? Is there any love what so ever? I tend to think not. Working a job that can already be stressful to begin with, it often times seems like costumers want to make it even more hectic. One thing goes wrong with their order and they are cussing up a storm. The storm will soon develop into a hate filled hurricane once you begin to try and explain what happened. They don’t want to hear an explanation or an apology; they just want to hate you. Hate you for something as small as forgetting to put a double cheeseburger on their tray. We all make mistakes, is this really worth going on a rampage over? I ask myself again, where is the love? I believe there is no love, only hate.
I can’t help but wonder what is happening with this world. We are falling apart. If we don’t find the love once again, we are only setting ourselves up for self destruction. Where is the love? I believe there is no love…there could be…but for now, there is only hate. Let’s all do apart to find the love again, I will, will you?
*The song I have referenced in this essay entitled “Where is the Love?” was apart of the album “Elephunk” released by the Black Eyed Peas in 2004.
About Alex:
Alex is currently a senior in high school and is undecided as to where he will be attending school next year; however, he plans on attending a four year university, major in political science, and then attend law school.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I completely agree with you Alex. It actually makes me sick to think about how people constantly hate everyone and everything. The word “hate” is now a major part of everyone’s everyday vocabulary. I’ll admit that I use it often, and I hear it come from almost everyone around me. “Oh I hate so-and-so”, “Oh, I hate doing this and that.” I too think that now, there is no love, only hate. You did a really good job on expressing this situation. Maybe if more people read this, they’ll think twice about what they say or do next time, and think about how they treat people around them. Maybe the word “hate” one day will leave our vocabulary. Maybe.
April 1st, 2007 at 11:19 am
Yes i agree that there is much openly expressed hate in our everyday world. But i don’t think it should be ignored or stopped. I understand that the way people treat each other at times is out of line and downright unethical only because people let their raw emotion take over. I am not so much against the emotion as i am against acting on said emotion. If i was committing a crime every time i decided i didn’t like someone then that is punishing an uncontrolled emotion. Where is the logic in that? I admit, there are some things, in my opinion, that would benefit the world a lot more by their absence but i don’t act on it. Hate is just as important of an emotion as love. Without these two extremes there would be no gray area in between. Hate is not the problem, it is how people deal with it. But generally yes, i understand where you are coming from. The behavior of people today is atrocious. We need to work on our people skills.
-Lisa
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 am
Dear Alex,
Though there was little I could dispute in your podcast, it did make me sad that someone as young as you is as disspirited as you seem. I hope that in the coming years you find so many more experiences of generosity and love that they tip the balance for you and the episodes of hate seem, once again, the anomalies.
Best regards,
Janet Swenson
Associate Dean
MSU College of Arts & Letters
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Alex,
I really appreciate the invitation you give all of us at the end of your piece: to do a part in finding the love. I hope you are seeing evidence that people around you are taking up that invitation. Maybe one small way that is happening is the time that people are taking here on your class’s site to leave notes of encouragment appreciate, and respect?
Take care,
Leah
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Hey Alex,
It’s great to hear you. Sometimes when I move about the world, I get so dispirited, overwhelmed by the negativity that seems so commonplace, so “normal” in our world. On those days, I feel mostly sad. When I was younger I felt angry at the injustices of the world, the unconsciousness of its inhabitants, and the lack of love as you might say. But gratefully, I can say that these days are far and few between now, and for the most part, and at the risk of sounding pollyannic, I’ve come to see so much love in the world, so much beauty. Love today doesn’t come with a dozen roses or a box of chocolates, but rather in the tender moments we so often take for granted–a look of recognition across a room full of people, a wave to let someone into traffic, a sunset on a spring evening. Love is everywhere and in everything…it sometimes just needs to be discovered. My hope for you is the never ending discovery of love in all that you experience in this world. Rob
April 4th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I totally agree with you! But You have to learn to see the bright side of things and be indifferent to others. If not, you’ll end up being one of those angry people.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:36 am
to all who have commented, i appreciate your thoughts, veiws and advice. however, i would like to note that it is not only the hate in people i see, i also see the great amount of love in todays world. i have personally experienced the flip side, the loving side, to all of the situations i described in my speech. for example, at work i often times say to my co-workers, you kno, the rude people really put a damper on the moment, but the really nice and polite people really make your day. I would also like to note that no matter how badly i am treated by anyone, no matter how much hate one displays towards me, i do my best to always treat them with the same amount of love i would treat anyone else with. I consider myself to be a man of god. Jesus walked around askin people to love everyone, letting people kno that god loved each and everyone one of them. My mission for my speech was not to bring people down, or come across as disspirited, but instead full of spirit, and hope, hoping that the hate can be eliminated, or greatly reduced anyways. thank you to all, and i hope to recieve more comments in the near future.
alex
April 19th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Alex,
What a powerful message you send! In lieu of the recent Virginia Tech shooting, this sense of loss of control seems unmanageable. I believe you are right in sighting the small elements of life that can be touched by love. The action is not so large and unattainable that we cannot love…we simply chose to respond with hate rather than love. And as for the “already stressful job” magnified by hateful reactions–I understand! Completely!
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Alex,
I think that you make a lot of good points in your speech, however. I believe that there is plenty of love you just have to know where to look. But you are also right because love is a hard thing to find and is quickly dieing and yes something has to be done
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Alex,
Although it is true that there is much hate in the world, I think that you should view some positives in the world around you. Everyday you hear on the news about the killing and spilling of blood, or this negative thing and that negative thing, but it starts with one. If one person chooses love over hate, thats where the chain begins, and as the chain grows, it becomes more powerful. People just aren’t aware of that these days.
-Zach
CHS Student
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
well i think that it true know one says’s thank you anymore know one has respected for any one not even there self.
also it was very touching to here.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
hey alex,
i know there is love out there it just tack some work to fond that love. once you find that love you well want to hold on to that love. like i said you will have to find that love. the love is not very easy to find. the love that you cant find will have to find you.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Wow, This speech is amazing. I totally agree with you in every way, shape and form. I ask myself alot, What happen to the love? My grandparents always are talking about how the times have changed and this is a horrible world to live in. I agree, these things wouldn’t of happen back in the day. There is no respect anymore. Crime rate is going way up and children aren’t even safe to play on a playground because of sick people. So, yes I totally agree. I dont like reading these boring speeches but yours I really enjoyed, I hope that through college you fill the same and do something about it. I will try to do my part. Thanks for the speech.
Sincerly,
Christian