a: Those people are haters.

b: That’s a shame.

a: I wish they’d all die a torturous death!

b: I thought you said ‘they’ were the haters.

a: They are! If I had a car I’d run them over!

b: Hold on. So you believe hate conquers hate?

a: Huh?

b: When you hate those who hate, you become like one of them, and perpetuate the hate.

a: It’s called vengeance, you wimp! It’s natural to seek vengeance!

b: But it’s supernatural to ‘love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you.’

a: That’s both dumb and impossible.

b: Christ wouldn’t command the impossible. He offers the power of grace to do it.  He gives us the means to stop hatred in its tracks, rather then just continue perpetuating it. Only love can conquer hate, which is an act of the will, not a passion. It’s the only way to true peace.

a: What nonsense! That’s for sissies.

b: Quite the contrary. It takes much more strength to redirect one’s desire to retaliate and channel it for good. It’s a sign of weakness to simply follow your impulses. Besides, love includes justice. But that’s different than spite or vengeance.

a: I want to see them suffer! Don’t you?

b: I want to see them change. If some suffering is a means to that end, so be it. But it’s not my place to make them suffer. It’ll happen inevitably if there isn’t a conversion of heart.

a: You’re a wuss. I hope these people burn in hell.

b: I hope you have a change of heart, and are able to see the error of your ways. But until then, the hate continues through you. Stop being part of the problem.