I disagree. People standing by and doing nothing in the face of atrocity is the problem. It’s not difficult to recognize hate. It’s not a matter of preference. When one person is harming another, that’s hateful. If a man is raping an unconscious woman at a party, that’s wrong. If Nazis are rounding up Jews and putting them in ghettos, that’s wrong. If police are shooting black people sitting in their cars, that’s wrong. If children are shouting “death to gays” at a ballgame, that’s wrong. Saying nothing and turning a blind eye is the problem. Not speaking up.

I’m amazed that a story asking for human decency has gotten so much pushback. It’s not much to ask.