Too many news stories exist concerning the latest crimes of hate, and the public outcry rises with each additional story. These crimes of passion, rooted in deep belief systems, present difficult issues to address, let alone remove. What can we do to stop hate crimes may be easier than you think. Here are some ideas to help get started.
The first thing you must do is act. Take action and get ready to step in and step up as one more person who will not tolerate these crimes. Make room on your calendar, have coffee or tea with your friends, talk to local business owners and other people in charge of facilities where people meet or work. Get your family involved, too.
Do your homework. Most court cases have records on file at the local courthouse but do not rely on these as sometimes you find the records sealed. Your best source of information is the other people involved, such as friends and relatives of the victim and the victim themselves. It is important to know what led up to the hate crime.
Now that you have the information and details gathered to form a group in your area, unite the people. Do not be discouraged if you only get a few people in the beginning. Too many people are filled with fear when it comes to doing in person approaches to criminal issues. Find at least three strong personalities who will hang in there with you and form a united front. Hate crimes will not go away by themselves. It takes a large number of people to make a difference.
Alternative behavior works well in preventing any crimes, but small children are especially interested in something fun to do. They have an adult family member with them which gets that adult involved in your mission. Plan competitive activities for all ages and include crafts, sports, and intellectual activities like Spelling Bees. Keep the long range goals in sight. Good ideas and plans must continue if there is any hope of changing the way haters think and behave. Consider putting up billboards with clever messages that make people think twice about just how important someone else's beliefs are to the greater scheme of things.
Never be afraid to speak up and be heard. Your determination is required to make sure the public knows you and your group are there to stay. Teach tolerance and understanding but be firm in your convictions. Hate crimes do not go away without a concerted effort. Begin by educating the children who are still young enough to embrace the common sense approach to life and its lessons.
By all means, set up a strong victim support network. These people need emotional support, legal support, and most often medical support. Lobby your leaders to take stronger action against these crimes and continue to dig deeper and more thoroughly than ever to find the answers everyone needs. Victims need support, not ridicule. Personally interview the department heads at your local facilities who work with victims of all types of abuse.
There are few things in life more heartbreaking than a loved one who is the victim of a bully, and even more so when the bullying results in death. Get started today working out your plan and start calling people who have the same hopes for tomorrow as you do.
The first thing you must do is act. Take action and get ready to step in and step up as one more person who will not tolerate these crimes. Make room on your calendar, have coffee or tea with your friends, talk to local business owners and other people in charge of facilities where people meet or work. Get your family involved, too.
Do your homework. Most court cases have records on file at the local courthouse but do not rely on these as sometimes you find the records sealed. Your best source of information is the other people involved, such as friends and relatives of the victim and the victim themselves. It is important to know what led up to the hate crime.
Now that you have the information and details gathered to form a group in your area, unite the people. Do not be discouraged if you only get a few people in the beginning. Too many people are filled with fear when it comes to doing in person approaches to criminal issues. Find at least three strong personalities who will hang in there with you and form a united front. Hate crimes will not go away by themselves. It takes a large number of people to make a difference.
Alternative behavior works well in preventing any crimes, but small children are especially interested in something fun to do. They have an adult family member with them which gets that adult involved in your mission. Plan competitive activities for all ages and include crafts, sports, and intellectual activities like Spelling Bees. Keep the long range goals in sight. Good ideas and plans must continue if there is any hope of changing the way haters think and behave. Consider putting up billboards with clever messages that make people think twice about just how important someone else's beliefs are to the greater scheme of things.
Never be afraid to speak up and be heard. Your determination is required to make sure the public knows you and your group are there to stay. Teach tolerance and understanding but be firm in your convictions. Hate crimes do not go away without a concerted effort. Begin by educating the children who are still young enough to embrace the common sense approach to life and its lessons.
By all means, set up a strong victim support network. These people need emotional support, legal support, and most often medical support. Lobby your leaders to take stronger action against these crimes and continue to dig deeper and more thoroughly than ever to find the answers everyone needs. Victims need support, not ridicule. Personally interview the department heads at your local facilities who work with victims of all types of abuse.
There are few things in life more heartbreaking than a loved one who is the victim of a bully, and even more so when the bullying results in death. Get started today working out your plan and start calling people who have the same hopes for tomorrow as you do.
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