cameron112497 said:
Even the hate that is arguably justified isn't worth it in the long run. This is extreme, but say someone murders someone close to you. He goes to jail, has a change of heart, and gets released from jail. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you know he has had a change of heart. Hate might make you still have animosity for him, while lack of hate will let you accept the person who was once bad.
The question im asking is, why do people hate? Is it justified?
Warning, there is a high potential for graphic outbursts in the sections that follow. You have been warned.
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In such a case, I would not give a flying whether the hate was justified or whether said murderer had gone through a change of heart. They bloody-well took the life, all the hopes, dreams and connections that someone I knew on a positive, personal level had as well as all the potential extra time I could have had with that person and replaced it with huge buckets of grief.
Even years after the incident, if my memory stayed sharp I could likely muster the anger to rip their head off given the chance. The biggest reason I would not even things out with such a murder is that I don't feel revenge is worth jail-time and I would eventually somewhat cool off, it would be a slow process, but I know that (luckily) memory is not perfect. But in that case you gave, I say the hate is justified and stays that way.
Now for lesser crimes that do not permanently rob a person of their hopes, dreams and relationships, things become a bit greyer. For theft or assault that does not leave permanent damage, to hate for long is simply a waste of your own time. Once you move onto more serious offences against someone, I think the desire to see that person in great pain, while not productive or good for mental health, is certainly understandable.
Hate is justified when someone has done something that damages your life for an extended period of time, or permanently takes something of great value (such as someone close to you) from it. Healthy no, but certainly justified.