It's a love-hate thing

As my friend told me once, 'Hate is a very strong word.' Recently I listened as two young women discussed the things they hate. Including creamed corn and corned beef - not necessarily eaten together! I was surprised that there was no mention of Brussels sprouts which seem to to be universally hated despite being a staple of Thanksgiving Dinners in the US. Mind you, my kids still talk about my corned beef and used to refer to it as pink meat.

The discussion went on to mention people talking on their phones in public with speaker phone on - more of that anon - and people who don't tidy up their house before having you come over. They did concede that it might be a mark of friendship that they didn't feel obliged to do so.
I know I was looked upon with dismay when our singing group sang at a local nursing home and I said I don't like dogs when the resident dog walked in. Well, I don't. I have walked neighbours' dogs for them and I have looked after my son in law's dogs when they are away, but I don't really like dogs.
The thing is I don't hate dogs. Hate is a very strong word. Maybe the two women were really talking about their pet peeves or the things that rub them up the wrong way, but it's very easy to slip into the 'hate' language.
SO I was thinking about hate. Maybe we should hate injustice. Maybe we should inequality? Or should we hate the fact that many of the world's people starve while others are overweight ? Should we hate what we are doing to our world?
Is it okay to hate those who open fire on innocent people at prayer? And yet I read that one man who lost members of his family in the Christchurch killings refused to hate the perpetrator. Can I hate the hate language? Some famous quotes give me food for thought.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. 
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Remind yourself to be kind to others and always choose love over hate.