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>"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - MLK Jr.

Maybe it is just me, but I feel like in the past few years I have seen a surge in violence. Also, maybe it is just the news channels covering more violence than the past, but either way I feel it in our psyche. Many of us have either become numb to violence, sighing at the news of a new university mass shooting and then continuing  with our morning coffee, or some of us have become angry. And people have a right to become angry. There are segments of the population who are being targeted for the color of their skin, their motherland, or the people they love. However, in the wake of violence being used to combat violence, I can only think in terms of MLK Jr.'s beautiful words:

>"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." -MLK Jr.

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Because love is power, because we can't fight fire with fire. Have you ever seen a wildfire? It's terrifyingly powerful...raging on for days, feeding on anything in its path. How do we put out wildfires? It is not with more fire...but rather with its opposite. We pour so much water over that fire that it no longer has space to grow. In the same way, I believe we need to pour so much love over the hate and violence we are currently seeing so that it no longer has space to grow. Because hate grows on hate, and rage will only feed rage. 

>"Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him." -MLK Jr.

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I woke up this morning to my friend sharing a beautiful video on Facebook, and I want to share it today on Steemit. I am not usually one to share non-original content, but I want to spread the love and this video was an extremely powerful manifestation of love drowning out hate. It is of a "free hugs" man in Cleveland giving out free hugs to all. This video focuses on him giving free hugs to cops, and shows their responses. I believe it is a beautiful demonstration that when you put love out in the world, you receive love back. Even further, when you shine out love, you give others the permission to shine out their own love. Also, in the wake of reading some hate speech on Steemit, I believe violent words are just as dangerous as violent action, so I propose we manifest that love on Steemit.

>"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace." -MLK Jr.

Here is the video, titled "Why Are We Killing Each Other?" - provided by the Free Hugs Project:

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Here is to spreading the love in your heart, home, Steemit, neighborhood, country and world! 
*All artwork is original*