Is hate a choice?

Irene suggests to Byron that he cover up the Nazis' hateful graffiti in the POW camp with the phrase "Hate Is a Choice." Do you think this phrase is true? How is this concept represented in the novel?

I am so glad you raised this question as I found this phrase very meaningful! I do believe “hate is a choice.” One of the key ways this was manifested in the book was the changing attitudes of the community to not feel hate towards the German POWs.

Good question. I think the initial feeling of hate be it manifested from rage or fear or another complex or simple emotion may not be a choice. But, like our innate “ fight or flight” response it can be controlled and a choice can be made to hate or not.

I think an initial reaction of anger to someone or a situation can lead to hate but one has a choice of allowing the hatred to fester or to forgive and move forward.

Hate is absolutely always a choice. First, it is necessary to determine if the hate one may feel is toward the person's behavior or something deeper within yourself to generate the hatred of the person.

It takes such tremendous work to generate and maintain hatred, not many people are up for the effort required. Thank heavens.

I also think hate is a choice, however, one first has to recognize and acknowledge their hateful feelings. Often people "hate" others out of sheer ignorance or because they were exposed to hate in their home/school/family, etc. Because prejudices and hate can be so imbedded in a person, it can be very difficult to have awareness and choose to change.

That question is especially powerful today when many parts of our culture and society are polarized and so many issues are divisive. I do believe hate is a choice and oftentimes it does negatively affect the person hating. Like the phrase that hating someone is like you drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. I also acknowledge that hate can be subtle and young children can be affected by it without truly understanding it. Choose love whenever possible.

I do think, ultimately, it is a choice. I also think, when you feel like someone else is responsible for your pain (like Lu’s sister), that hate is a natural response. It is a corrosive emotion for those feeling it and for those it’s aimed at, however.

Hate as a child is due to the teaching of the parents. When a person is grown up they can decide on their own whether they will love or hate.

I believe that hate starts as ignorance. One may be born into a home where hate resides. But then with education, hate then becomes a choice.

Hate is many things. It can be an emotional response to an event or someone that has hurt us deeply. It can be learned behavior from a parent or other person in authority
passing their personal hatred on. Once we have matured though, hate becomes a choice. When we reach a point when we can analyze the hatred, why we feel that way or what the cause of it is, we have the choice of forgiving, forgetting and moving on or we can let it fester and ruin our lives.