I Don’t Have to Like You

I don’t like you
and I don’t have to
The same goes for you
There may be reasons:
good or not, right or wrong
But it doesn’t matter.

This goes for people or populations
What matters is the speech or actions
Violence of any kind is taboo*
Words can lead to hostilities
And cause them too.

Love can’t be mandated
You don’t have to love everybody
Maybe you shouldn’t — keep love special
Or as said above, like everybody
But there are parameters:

All peoples (and most individuals) deserve
Acknowledgment, 
Respect,
Compassion,
Understanding,
Acceptance.

* FYI  — Late 18th century: from Tongan tabu (set apart, forbidden), introduced into English by Captain James Cook.

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Read more by Ada Mark Strausberg.