Mike Domitrz argues that every person has inherent value, even those who act horrifically. Responding to hatred with hatred betrays the belief that all humans deserve dignity. You can hold someone accountable for their actions without dehumanizing them.
I view no matter who I meet in this world, somewhere in that person, somewhere, is value. And if that person is acting in a horrific way in any capacity, I have to stop and remind myself somewhere in there is value. And if anything, I have empathy for them because they haven't found it or they've lost it or they're in a lost way. But to speak or spew hatred about them, even if they speak hatred about me, I'm not speaking hatred back. This is my choice. And here's my only reason why. The second I speak it back, I don't believe every human being deserves dignity and respect. So I have to make a choice that even though they're treating me with disrespect, who I am is not the one who treats others with disrespect. That doesn't mean I approve what they're doing. That doesn't mean that I won't speak out against what they're doing. And that doesn't mean I won't hold them responsible for how they're doing all of this. But what I won't call them is a monster. I won't call them words that dehumanize. I'll use words that hold them responsible.
