Hate People For What They Chose

I don't think that hate is necessarily a bad thing.  Sure, it's not the most productive thing in the world, but it's certainly understandable.  Hate is the response to something that completely goes against your world view.  However, not everything is deserving of hate.

There is no reason to hate people because of their skin color or their home land.  They didn't choose where they came from.

Hate people for what they chose.  Somebody chose to cut you off in traffic.  Somebody chose to make fun of your outfit.  Somebody chose to steal your sunglasses.  Some things may be more trivial than others, but they are equally valid for earning one's ire.

The difference in hating something valid or invalid is how others perceive you.  When you hate somebody that wronged you, people will support you and cheer you on to make right what is wrong.  When you hate somebody who has a different religion than you, you look like a vile, prejudiced bigot.

Most characters are compelled by some kind of hate.  If you want people to sympathize with your characters, make that hate a rational kind.  If you want them to despise a character, give that character an irrational hatred.

And if you want to give yourself a challenge, try to make a sympathetic bigot and an asshole victim.