2013 – 3rd Grade National 2nd Place Winner

Ajay Krishnaney, Ohio.

Which is more powerful, love or hate?

According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of powerful is having the "ability to act or produce an effect." I believe that love is more powerful than hate. Love can kill hate but hate cannot kill love. For example Abraham Lincoln fought a war to free the slaves because of his love of the idea of equality of all people. Another example is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who gave great speeches and led marches to stop segregation and end racism in America using the power of love. The ideas and belief in love of all people taught by these two great men have overcome the hate of white people in the south and now we have a black president. On the other hand, hate cannot produce love. In the Middle East, for example the Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting for a long time. They have seen many of their own people die in their attempt to destroy each other. Even though so many people have died and so many things have been destroyed, their hatred for each other blinds them and stops them from making any peace.

Love is also more powerful because it is long lasting while hate burns out. When Lebron left Cleveland everybody was furious. Now, after only 2 years Cleveland's hatred has simmered down so much that no one mentions him leaving any more. Even though the Cleveland Browns have been horrible for many years, Cleveland fans keep supporting them because of their love for the team. Whenever one hates, there is rage hut then it burns out because it is simply not sustainable and natural. However, when someone loves, the feeling of love actually fuels his or her good energy.

Finally, love is more powerful because it is freeing and hate is paralyzing. When a person is dedicated to a cause and volunteers to help, often times the person feels like doing even more. For example, when I volunteer at the soup kitchen, I always have a great feeling afterwards and I always want to do more in the future. On the other hand, takers are obsessed with nothing but taking. They are paralyzed by their thoughts of what to take next from other people. An example of a taker is Prince John from the story of Robin Hood. No matter how much he took from his subjects, he was never satisfied. This paralyzed him because all he could think about was what to take next to try to make himself feel better.

In conclusion, I feel that love is more powerful than hate. Because love gives a sense of liberation and energizes you and it simply has more ability to produce an effect. In the end, love always overcomes hate because it endures and can outlast hate.

 

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