Updated after yet another undeclared, ultra long hiatus. And I've finally added Labbit into my links too. Sorry for delay. Anyway, I should stop this administrative nonsense. Let's jump into today's long awaited episode of...

Virtue or Sin: Hate Part II

Where did we leave off?Ah yes, I'd only just finished defining what I meant by "Love" and "Hate", and I was going to explain why I said that Love and Hate are actually the same concepts, and not, in fact, the opposite ends of the spectrum. Now, for a recap.

What is Love? Love is the act of selflessly sacrificing everything of oneself, to chain oneself to the person he loves, to unconditionally, and silently give up everything he or she possesses to furthur the career or life of that said someone.

And Hate? Hate is the act of selfishly taking from someone everything you can, with no intention of returning even one whit of what you took, whether intentionally or not.

To the average human, to most people, (to even me) that sounds like a description of two entities that are at the very opposite ends of a huge spectrum. That feels like the conventional explanation for Love and Hate. But I've since found out that "conventional" usually means to be left in the wake of everyone else's dust. And going along that train of thought, I've concluded that Love and Hate are the same things.

How so?

Unbeknownst to many, the fairytale of a "Love-Hate relationship" is far more closer to the truth than any of us could come. We've all heard of such a thing, where the two protagonists start out to be nemesis and "hate" each other. (Note the "hate", I'm not using it in the context of my definitions) Then, later, what we term as "time" passes, and the two said persons come to realise they "love" each other instead. (Note the "love" again.) They come to see that one can no longer live without the other, and that seperation would mean pain unbearable. And so they up and gets married, and lives happily ever after.

Does such a scenario really exist? More importantly, what is its significance to my argument?

I'll answer both at one time: There is no such thing as a "Love-Hate relationship".

Based on my definitions of "Love" and "Hate", there cannot be both at the same time... can there? And if such a thing as "Love-Hate" does not exist, then it means that Love and Hate are not entities that exist in the sense of the world.

Unlike "Light" which is as intangible as "Love", Light is an entity that exists. But the concepts of "Love" and "Hate"... they are exactly that. Concepts. Nothing more. They exist in the world only as much as Peter Pan or Satan or Jesus or Heaven or Hell or Angels or Demons does.

They exist only in those who believe they do.

Such concepts have always been troubling theologists. If Jesus exists in the Bishops or Priests, then what about the pagans? Jesus doesn't exist for them. Then... comes the question of does Jesus exist or not?

Does Love really exist? The answer is no, it is merely another comfort zone humans create for themselves. God is a concept that humans made up, a concept that explains our existence. A concept that assures us of our place in the world. If God doesn't exist.. the it could well mean that humans exist only because they do. That we have no purpose in our existence, except that we do exist.

For some people, that concept is unbearable.

Love and Hate are similiar to that. We strive to explain why we are giving up our lives to bring up our young. It is an explanation we give ourselves as to why we are giving up better suitors for this guy or that girl to be our mate for life. It is an explanation of why we can never get a civil word across to another person. It is an explanation of why, when our parents give up everything they have for us, we still take everything they give and return nothing.

If the concept of Love and Hate doesn't exist, then disturbing questions pop up: Why am I giving up this job for my wife? Why am I not going to furthur my studies in Australia just because my mom is dying? Why do I have to work in the first place, to feed my children? For what? Why am I not just going to steal? Why am I observing proprieties for that stall holder, I should just take what I want.

With the concepts of Love and Hate, the answer comes easily: Because I love my children, I don't want them to suffer. Because I love my wife, I want to make her happy. Because I hate theives, that's why I don't steal. Because I love my mother, that's why I'm giving up the chance to furthur my education, just stay with her in her final moments.

Thus, if you look at people to people relationships, if you dig far enough, if you think about it long enough, you'll be able to find "Love-Hate" relationships at the root of everything.

Wait, didn't I say "Love-Hate relationships" don't exist? Well, they don't. Remember what I concluded about "Love" and "Hate"? They do not exist in the sense of the world. If they don't exist, a Love-Hate relationship cannot exist either. But since "Love" and "Hate" are just concepts, then, a "Love-Hate relationship" can be a concept as well.

In actual fact, the only way the concepts of "Love" and "Hate" can be explained is in the form of "Love-Hate" relationships. The two are inseperable. At the root of every love, at the root of every hate, there is a love-hate.

Love and Hate cannot be explained individually simply because they are not individual entites.(they are not even entites, remember?) Love and Hate are as interlinked as Light and Shadow, only that the latter DOES exist, and the former doesn't. You cannot be loved without hating that someone. You cannot hate someone without loving him. Use my definitions, then look at these two statements again. You will find it is true:

When someone gives everything he/she owns for you, you're taking everything he gives you, and not returning anything. Is that person not "loving" you, and you not "hating" him?

Try it on relationships all around you. Look at your father and mother. Look at your uncle and aunty. Look at your friends. Then, when you think you are ready, look at yourself. You will find it is so true you will shy from the truth. Ah, and what is truth anyway... (nevermind about truth. I've already said it before.)

Finally, after all these mind-numbing arguments, the final question, the one that has been voiced in the first place. Virtue or Sin?

Hate, is it a virtue or a sin? Is it right to hate someone? Should we forgive everyone who has ever done us injustice, or should we hold a grudge? Is doing that a virtue, that of upholding justice, or a sin, that of selfish need to feel important? Since "love" and "hate" are inseperable, then let us examine with this with love as well.

Is it a virtue or a sin? Is it right to love someone? Should we reject everyone's need for love, or should we love everyone we meet? Is doing that a virtue, of a compassionate heart, or a sin, of a needless sacrifice?

As usual, I will not answer the question. Afterall, as a free thinker, I avoid such theological absolutes. As Obi-Wan Kenobi is so fond of saying, "Only the Sith deal in absolutes".

Anyway, thank you for waiting so long, and listening to my awfully stupid and irrational explanations. I'm a free thinker, so I will not force the reality that "Love" and "Hate" doesn't exist on anyone. (Just the same way I do not expect to be forced into a religion)

I'd love to stay and talk more, but... some other time, I guess.

Arigatou, and sayonara.

Looking to the future~
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