“I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”
That’s what Donald Trump said at Charlie Kirk’s memorial event. The crowd cheered.
Cheering hate. Let that sink in.
I’m not surprised he said it. But I am unsettled by how easily people celebrated it. This isn’t a political point—it’s a human one. Words like these are corrosive, and they spread unless we choose differently.
I grew up in locker rooms where winning was everything. My Pop Warner coach had Lombardi’s famous line taped to his wall: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” He pushed me hard. We went undefeated, unscored upon in 8th grade. But here’s what he never taught: to hate the other side.
Compete fiercely, yes. Respect your rivals, always. That was the lesson that lasted.
Nearly fifty years later, I see the wisdom in it. Competition fades. People remain. And what matters most isn’t domination…it’s connection. Not being right, but being in relationship. Not hate, but love.
Or as others put it:
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – MLK Jr.
“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love.” – Gandhi
“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” – Lincoln
We don’t have to cheer hate. We can choose love.
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Previously Published on Men Living and is republished on Medium.
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