"Love writes a letter and sends it to Hate."
This is the opening line of a beautiful song by The Avett Brothers, a folk rock band of two brothers (and some others). This song is titled "The Ballad of Love and Hate" and is off of their album "Emotionalism." And while there are plenty of other great songs on that album and by this band, I feel the need to focus on this personification of two of humanities strongest emotions.
A ballad is a simple, romantic song. This structure of a ballad is intended for young lovers, it is intended for older, more seasoned couples, it is intended to be sentimental, and maybe even erotic. So why then, would The Avett brothers use such a construct to express the relationship between love and hate? Most people look at love and hate as complete opposites. They are often viewed as completely different emotions with completely different roots. And while love is most often strived for and looked at as the greatest of all emotions to have, hate is simultaneously the worst emotion one can feel. Too much of love gets you happiness, while too much hate gets you sick to your stomach. Or so is thought...
If there were no evils in the world, I am sure we would simply be a bunch of apathetic losers with nothing to do and nothing to appreciate. I put forth that the emotions of love and hate work in much the same way. And this ballad helped me to realize this. Look at the dichotomy of good and evil for a moment. Think about how goodness is always represented as pure and whole, merciful and forgiving. Goodness is always what is rooted for, and, in the movies at least, it always wins. Now, think about how evil is always represented in darkness and brokenness, it is always seen as lesser and always loses. But, without darkness, how can you appreciate the light?
Throughout the song, it becomes evident that love and hate are in a romantic relationship, that Love went on holiday leaving Hate behind, and now love is coming back to hate. In all reality, this story seems off. Aren't love and hate supposed to despise each other? Aren't they mortal enemies in constant combat for victory over our souls? Apparently not according to me and The Avett Brothers. Love and hate work in harmony, they are supposed to be different sides to a coin instead of being the difference between a literal five-headed dragon and your humble Girl Scout. In reality, you don't hate something until you love something else, or love something unless you hate something else. For example, I hate pollution and what it does to the planet, but this hate is only because I love Earth and all of its beauty. I love my parents, not because I hate someone else, but I hate the idea that I would ever have to live without them. Both love and hate are things that need each other. And as humans, we need to accept them both. Neither of them is inherently good, or inherently bad. A love of self-harm because you hate yourself is not good. And a hatred of a certain ethnicity because of the love you have for you own is not good.
Don't go through your life only loving, for you will get nowhere. Do not go through your life only hating, for you will get equally nowhere. Learn to balance them, and learn to hate with all the same ferocity you love with. The emotions will be all the stronger because of it.
