Tragedy happened in Paris. In his Nov. 14 column “Terrorism not just Paris’ problem, it’s our problem,” Editor Lou Brancaccio asks his Parisian friend, “When will the madness end?” The response, “Rhetorical question for our time. Hate the hate.”
I say “no.” We must stop talking that way because we must stop thinking that way. Hate, no matter how justified, only feeds hate and subverts our true power in the moment it is most needed.
It may seem like nitpicking, criticizing word choices made in moments of profound sadness and helplessness. But it’s not, because what we tell ourselves matters; it shapes what we see and how we solve problems.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s words give hope and direction, harnessing our personal power, “We … will continue to be a state that embraces compassion and eschews fear-mongering.” The more each of us refuses to hold tight to fear and hate, the more we will be open to the opportunities to see and create a world where love and peace reign.