When I was growing up, my parents embedded the idea that hate was a curse word and it was only to be used in extreme circumstances because of the power it holds. I was advised to use less harsh phrases such as I disliked someone or I didn’t like something. My parents planted the idea that saying I hated someone was equivalent to saying I wanted them dead. As a six year old, I regularly questioned my parents' drastic comparisons to hate and death. I didn’t understand how saying I hated my primary teacher meant I wanted them dead, I was just mad she took away my play-doh. Now I’m eighteen, reading novels like Night by Elie Wiesel, viewing Ted Talks by Christian Picciolini, and reading other documentaries of hate. Suddenly I’ve never appreciated…show more content… Prior to the Second World War, our society witnessed the buildup to a genocide, where Jewish people were the targets. The Holocaust was an example and representation of the power of hate through manipulation, dehuminization, and death of two thirds of the Jewish population. As to where hate comes from, it’s the same as being taught not to hate. Although I was lucky to grow up in an accepting household, I believe we take on the roles others create for us. For instance, my dad is a die hard Montreal Canadians fan, as a result I have taken on the Montreal Canadians as my favourite sports team. Our surroundings and influences impact our morals and perceptions of the world around us. Thus, when our leaders broadcast hatred towards a concept, we as humans tend to follow their beliefs as well. This ‘follow the leader’ society is dangerous and sneaky. As a society, we’ve been built to accept and follow people in power, regardless of whether they’re right or wrong. We are all partly responsible, as no one has questioned the effects and consequences of believing in a singular leader or a group of…show more content… In this situation, Donald Trump has an influence he may not be aware of, and this statement led to the justification of many racist, homophobic, and other discriminatory groups to continue their hate acts towards others. Even with Trump’s justification, it’s hard to fathom how hate develops to the extreme of a genocide or the events in Charlottesville. In attempts to illustrate this build-up, my dad put it into perspective for me. He told me to imagine hate were my mistakes in hockey, the goals that get me when I’m playing in the net. He told me to picture how much grief I give myself for these mistakes, then he told me to take this hatred of myself and blame others for my mistakes. I suddenly understood why hating others is so easy. If I blamed others as much as I blamed myself, I can only imagine the hatred I would feel. My parents valued me, I am fortunate I learned to take accountability. Through sports and the example of my parents' morals, I’ve been taught to take responsibility for my own actions. I’ve noticed that others don’t exhibit the same qualities, and instead of holding themselves accountable, they hold
