2019 – 8th Grade National 2nd Place Winner

Millia C. Preap, Colorado.

We grew up learning that the four-letter words “love” and “hate” were completely different. We were taught that love is good and hate is bad. We know how “I love you” can light up someone's world and “I hate you” can burn it into ashes. Wouldn't that mean that love has a greater impact on society? Having a greater impact on something doesn't necessarily mean it is better. It is human nature to choose whichever seems more appealing to you in the moment. Weather love or hate has a bigger impact just depends on the situation. In all truth, love and hate are basically two sides of the same coin. You can often see that things done out of hate can cause love to grow, vice versa. We grow up watching and reading the news out to show you a horrible sense of reality. I believe that love and hate have the same impact on society. There is a thin line between love and hate; the line is you.
What is love? is it the feeling of euphoria? is it when you are willing to do anything for anyone? is love empathy, morality, and acceptance? Those powerful 4 letters are often thrown around but can you really define it? If you love someone so much to hate someone for them, what is that? Do you ever feel like there are some who don't deserve love or like they aren't capable of loving? DaShanne Stokes once said, “the power of love is that it sees all people”. There is always someone out there willing to completely believe that everyone has good in them. Because of the good in them, it brings out an unforeseen good in other people. Hate had created love in this scenario. In the case of a Wyoming University All-American student named Matthew Shepard, who was brutally murdered for his true identity, this is the same. His parents did not wish death upon the people who took the last breath from their son. They had empathy. Not only that, as much as you try to hate someone, you cannot hate them if they don't give into it. You just end up hating nothing and growing hate upon yourself. I'd like to believe that for every person you hate, there is someone who loves them. Hitler was one of the most disgusting people to ever walk the face of this earth and after. That didn't keep people from loving and worshiping him though. Whether you hate or love something depends on you.
Here we meet hate who is universally introduced as the bad guy. Hate is destruction upon relationships, passions, and lifestyles. Hate is the intense feeling in your stomach that makes you want to scream. But, hate is the one that takes the toxic people and things out of your life. Kim Namjoon of BTS once wrote in a song, “If love and hate are the same words, I love you Seoul. If love and hate are the same words, I hate you Seoul.” He wrote this highlighting his passion for the city and his soul (because Seoul and soul sound similar). Love and hate are emotions that come out from passion. If hate is the bad guy, shouldn’t love be too? Love hurts you too. Love leaves you. Love is hate.
“Love makes you do crazy things, insane things. Things in a million years you'd never see yourself do”. Those words were once said in the film Wicker Park. Love can force you Into Darkness full of false reflections. You are always doubting yourself, constantly wondering if you're good enough. Lately, there has been controversy around the LGBTQ community and whether or not it is “correct”. Many claim that it isn't because of their love for God. This love leads to bashing those who are a part of the community. There have been so many cases of people dying due to homophobia. People who are lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans gender, or queer are getting ripped apart because of love and hate.
Heads or tails. Right now our actions are because of love. Later we find out it's because of both. Love and hate are words that come out our mouth after our decision on something. I might’ve grown up being told that love and hate are opposites that I have learned that they have the same impact on society. I just get to decide if I am going to love or hate for the better period through 1000 more debates, whether or not love and hate have the same impact is just going to remain a big mystery for now heads or tails. It's your choice. Only you get to choose what happens with your love or hate.

 

 

 

 

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