Hi Mrs. Ann!
Here are the questions. Thank you again for helping me out!
Questions:
1. Do you think that there is too much hate in today’s society?
I do think there is too much hate, but I think any hate would be too much. Hate is a powerful word that carries strong connotations. Hate is not annoyance or irritation. Hate is anger and fury and spite.
2. Do you think there is too much love in today’s society?
I have found through the course of my life, a surprising amount of love on the planet. It sometimes appears from the unlikeliest people and manifests in ways that never cease to amaze me. But, if you ask me if there is too much if it… No, I think we could probably do with a little more.3. Is there any personal experience that is behind your opinion?
A little over seven years ago, I can to the realization and understanding that I was an alcoholic. My life was very sad. And especially lonely. I did not know what to do. I think now, that I could have probably gone to my family and asked for help; my family is kind. But at the time, that idea seemed too far-fetched, too humiliating, too debilitating. So, I turned to complete strangers for help. These people, AA, showed me that I could live a better type of life. They taught me how alcohol manifests from the worst part of my psyche. Then they showed me how to be happy. I hated myself and who I was. I hated that I was a failure. That I let so many people down. But the women of AA “loved me until I could love myself.” And they still do.4. In general, what are some examples of too much hate and too much love?
I think one just has to look around to see examples of hate and love.
Drive down one of Houston’s freeways. You will see drivers cut one another off. Some drivers speed dangerously, swerving in and out of lanes, because where they are going is of far more importance than another’s safety. You will see drivers slow down to see if the accident is a fatality.
But you will also see people let others calmly merge. You will see people stopping at accidents to call for help and then stay to serve as witnesses.
5. Why would people in today’s society show too much hate towards others?
People have always had a fear of the unknown. There is a philosophy that says that people cannot know themselves. All one can know is what they are not. In other words, I look out in the world. You say, Ann what do you like? And there is too much of everything. How am I to know? Where do I begin? So I start by trying something, taking something, listening to something, seeing something. I say, I do not know what I like, but I know it is not that.
I think this philosophy is right.
People look out in the world and it scares them. And they see someone of a different race, who has a different culture. Rather than exploring or learning or understanding, they say, I do not know what I am, but I know I am not that. That mentality, the fear, that’s what spreads hate.
6. How would you think of solving this problem?
Of course, I would have people read more.
– Victoria
P.S Based on the answers you give me, I may make up new questions for my paper… thank you!
Ann Kroger 