Hate trend alarming
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Editor,
One of the most outstanding organizations in America, “The Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc.” of Montgomery, Alabama, has been “dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society” since 1971. The reason I bring this up right now is because our nation, right at this moment in time with our political environment, is experiencing an unprecedented and dangerous level of hate and bigotry.
According to the 2016 Spring publication, SPLC Report, “The number of hate groups grew by 14 percent last year, the same rate of growth within far-right antigovernment groups, including armed militias.”
Is it any wonder that the rhetoric of candidates for high office such as Donald Trump, designed to ramp up anger, hate and bigotry, is gaining a mass following? Trump has tapped into the same anger and fear that has reportedly increased the ranks of hate groups in 2015. It would seem this is an alarming trend that all America needs to look at squarely and with deep concern leading to constructive action.
Change is probably one of the things most of us resist in life, but change it will take. And that change begins with a change in attitudes, a change in mind and a change in our actions.
Organizations like the SPLC do great work in tracking, exposing and alerting us all to these dangerous groups and trends, but “we the people” really need to take notice and not just sit back, shake our heads, talk about the problems among ourselves and then get on with our lives without taking responsible action.
Bob McClellan
Polson
