When my siblings and I were little, my parents forbade us from using the word “hate.” For a while, I viewed it as equal in offense to uttering a curse word (none of which I knew in kindergarten, of course) and would be shocked whenever someone else used it. It didn’t take me long to realize, however, that “hate” is a pretty common word. Sometimes I still think about this, how often we casually toss around the word “hate.” From discussing this weekend’s football game (“Man, I hate the Razorbacks”) to commenting on the dining hall food (“Everyone hates South Dining Hall right now”) to gossiping about others (“Don’t you just hate when she does that?”), “hate” is seriously ingrained in our vocabulary. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” If we are to take his advice, it seems necessary to respond with love. I think most of us, myself included, would struggle to do what Erica Kirk did.