I write a national column about Jewish issues for Examiner.com. Every once in a while I hit on a topic that brings the hate mongers out. These are people who have nothing nice to say about Jews in particular and whose day becomes brighter when they can leave a really nasty comment somewhere.
I used to delete the comments. I didn’t want them tainting my column. Then another columnist told me to leave them there because they stir other people to comment as well.
Yet it never fails to amaze me–and disturb me–that such hateful and prejudiced people exist in the world. What do they get out of feeling and behaving in this manner? Do they have such a high need to be right or superior? It’s scary really–especially for a Jew.
After reading two hateful comments on my column today, I thought about how to go about counteracting such hate and create peace. I came up with just one answer: respond with love.ย
To change the world as a whole and the people in it who are consumed by their hate and their prejudice we must exude love…love for them and for everyone. We must make our predominant way of being in the world one of expressing love. We must look for love everywhere and leave signs of love wherever we go (see the photo for just one idea).
I know that isn’t easy. I am often angry, judgemental and other things and emotions far from love. We can strive to be and express love, though. In the process, we will put out more love than before.
Love has a vibration. That vibration can change the world. It may not change the hate mongers of the world, but it surely can make the rest of us feel better and create a wave of love that makes them and their hate insignificant.