I've been getting really into linguistics lately. The words we use hold so much more meaning than Webster tells us. Linguistics is my minor, and I've done reports and given lectures about the difference between sexism and misogyny, which have very different meanings but are often used interchangeably.

But right now, there's a very specific word I can't seem to get out of my mind. Hate. Hate is a much stronger word than people realize, and it's a word I think a lot of people use too lightly. There are so many people who don't understand the repercussions of true hatred. Hatred gives us racism.  Hatred gives us misogyny. Hatred starts wars. Takes lives. Forces innocent people to live in fear. Hatred starts genocides. And yet, we live in a culture in which this word is tossed around like it's nothing. Like it's meaningless. Have we become so immune to true emotions that we can disregard the true meanings of our words - the true impact of our words - and turn a blind eye to the true hatred that is all around us?

I don't mean to sound like I'm lecturing. I'm not. I just needed to get this off my chest.

So, please, think before you speak. Make sure you mean what you say wholeheartedly.

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