Hate Crime Effects and Overcoming

    Hate crimes can have tremendous effects and the level of severity can be different.  The world can witness this with things such as the Holocaust and the Rwanda genocides.  These two examples are very extreme and the hate crimes commited in the U.S. are by far not that extreme.  Hate crimes, nonetheless, are bad and can have negative affects in our community.
   America has a form of extremism entering into the country.  Extremism by definition is a tendency to go to extremes.  "This is not about freedom of speech. This is about hatred in one of its "worst forms. In fact, rightwing extremism is so prevalent and extensive today that it may appear to some to be just a natural backlash to the progress that has been accomplished during the last 50 years toward a more just and equitable society" (Chavis,2011,p.19).  Especially when it comes to the acceptance of Gays in this country that have been coming out rampidly, because of the way our society is.
     Even in our country today there needs to be more acceptance of people that are different from us.  We are all individuals not one person is the same.  When we learn to accept people it brings society together, but first the acceptance of different people comes within the household, which is where we base our morals and values in life from.  The youth are very influencable and easily swayed in their opinions on life. In the article titled Honoring Differences and Fighting Hate it states: "hate seems to be happening spontaneously among kids who feel it's OK to terrorize and assault people"(Holman,2005,p.33).  This is a not a good thing by any means and it is saddening that even young children can stir up so much hatred, tolerance needs to be instilled when you are young for accepting people of any culture.
     There needs to be a reduction in hate crimes in our society.  "Every day 8 Blacks, 3 Whites, 3 homosexuals, 3 Jews and one Hispanic person become victims of a hate crime, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center" (R.A.,2005,p.5). This is very upsetting and needs to change.  Our country has come to far to resort back to its old ways of true racisim. 

References:
R., A. (2005, Jan/Feb). Reducing violence in our society. Skipping Stones, 17(1), 5.
Holman, S. (2005, Jan/Feb). Honoring differences and fighting hate. Skipping Stones, 17(1), 33-34.
Chavis, B. (2011, January 20-26). Violent rightwing extremism continues in america. Washington Informer, pp. 19,34.