Facing Up to the Horror of Hate : Combatting the bigotry sweeping a recession-soaked region

Americans are angry, and looking for someone to blame. Hard times, the recession and unemployment always fuel acts of bigotry and violent hate crimes.

Jobless workers blame Japan for America’s domestic woes. Unemployed men and women also blame “them”--minorities and immigrants--for the scarcity of decent jobs. This scapegoating inspires epithets, graffiti and a sobering increase in assaults.

Hate crimes are on the rise.

The Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission has catalogued a sobering 22% increase in assaults and other hate crimes. Gay men, African-Americans and Jews were victimized most often, and not just with offensive words. Last year, incidents of graffiti, vandalism and threats were outnumbered by violent attacks--for the first time in the 12 years since “hate crime” statistics have been recorded.

These vile acts were not limited to congested, inner-city neighborhoods where Latinos, African-Americans, Koreans and other minorities compete increasingly for jobs, affordable housing and space in neighborhood schools. The tally also jumped in more traditional suburbs in Long Beach, Van Nuys and areas of the San Gabriel Valley.

In Orange County, the Human Relations Commission has also documented a significant increase in hate crimes. Among the 120 hate-related incidents there, the list included attacks on Asian-Americans; slurs against homosexuals; spray-painted swastikas at houses of worship and a burned cross, bedsheet, hood and hangman’s noose found at a park.

Southern California may be more diverse than other parts of the U. S. but the region is no anomaly when it comes to hate crimes. Japan-bashing is on the rise nationally, according to the U. S. Civil Rights Commission, and Asian-Americans are paying the price. Violent gay-bashing against homosexual men is also on the rise in five major cities, according to a new study. In both cases the increase is exacerbated, in part, when politicians seek scapegoats instead of solutions.

Election-year politics amplify the mean-spirited messages. In the race for Louisiana governor, for example, racist David Duke won the majority of white votes. Pat Buchanan cloaks his divisive sentiments in sophisticated and more polished diatribes. But the message is the same: Us against them. Although his popularity is waning, Buchanan has spread his inflammatory message during his race for the Republican presidential nomination. Not enough politicians with the media glare of Duke or Buchanan have countered their messages with appeals for tolerance.

Bigotry begets bigotry. Tolerance--taught at home, and demanded at school and at work--is the best antidote. Government can’t outlaw hatred, but tough laws and harsh penalties can influence public behavior, and keep a lid on hate crimes even in hard times.

The Human Rights Commission report puts everyone on notice that this region is going through a difficult period right now. The best among us--the true leaders among our politicians, the true citizens among our populace--must rise to the occasion and beat back the horror of hate through the power of word and the example of deed.