The definition of a hate crime is “a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, typically one involving violence.” My name is Stephen, and I am a senior in high school. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school when I discovered hate crimes against women is still a global problem in 2016. I believe that gender discrimination needs an immediate solution and an increase in awareness.
1 in 3 women are victims of rape, abuse, or discrimination, however the individuals behind the crimes are rarely punished to the fullest extent in the eyes of the law. Recently, a Stanford student was founded guilty to three felony counts of sexual assault but only faced six months of prison. At this point, it is safe to say that it is a fact that women are discriminated against in today’s American society. I currently attend a high school in Santa Clarita, a safe, isolated town North of Los Angeles. One of the most common problems in American Society is to create a false belief that “everything is okay” or “crimes against humanity does not exist in our city/town/state.” Many people refer to Santa Clarita as a “boring, safe town” where no crime exists. While just recently, I attended a seminar hosted by a former sex slave who opened my eyes about the sex trafficking business that happened around me, in my town. As a result, I realized no town is safe from ANY type of crime and now realize it’s my job as the future of America to spread awareness about crimes against humanity. While the news is focused on professional athletes not standing for the pledge, I am trying to make a change and bring awareness to inhumane crimes that put thousands of women into danger. These types of news events puts no one in actual harm and as a unified country, we need to change the perspective of how we view America. The news just focuses on what the people want to hear, not the crimes that cause the destruction of our civilization. This is caused to make people feel better and a false sense of “security or reality” or in some cases, ignorance. As a result, many people believe “standing for the pledge” jeopardises American freedom or rights, but in reality when you discover how hate crimes are problems that actually strip innocent people of their rights, you no longer believe “not standing for the pledge” deprives anyone of their inalienable rights. “One hate crime is committed approximately every hour of everyday in this country” No excuses can justify despicable crimes of acid attacks, forced marriage, and even racial profiling. The acts of destruction are just as terrible as people who have a voice to speak out against the problem, unlike the victims of the attacks. The scariest part is the fact that some people who commit hate crimes truly believe it was the right thing to do. America needs to educate themselves on current events that are “too graphic” to talk about. The false sense of security needs to come to an end or else we will slowly diminish our society as a whole.
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The following 10 documentaries are some of the most sad and disturbing films made- but completely necessary. Originally, this was going to only be a list of films regarding crimes against women, but we realized that those are all available on our resources page. This blog is different from our others because it focuses on worldwide issues and not just those regarding women. Warning: The following films are all extremely graphic in nature. Due to this, we have only included the trailers rather than the entire films. We have also listed the rating as well as how graphic the documentary is. 1) Bulgaria's Abandoned Children (R), very graphic *full filmThis devastating documentary examines the horrific conditions of mental institution for disabled children in Bulgaria. The sexual abuse, graphic images of neglect, and hopelessness of the whole facility will leave you bawling. 2) Audrie & Daisy (TV MA)In two towns on different sides of America, two teenage girls pass out while intoxicated at high school parties and, while unconscious, both are sexually assaulted by boys they call friends. In the aftermath, the girls each endure online harassment, both attempt suicide, and tragically, one dies. The film explores this new public square of shame from the perspective of the teenagers and their families -- including the boys involved in the assaults and the girls willing to speak out publicly. An emotional, anger-provoking film told with clarity and guts. 3) India's Daughter (R), graphicFilmmaker Leslee Udwin examines the society and values of India after a 23-year-old medical student is brutally gang raped and murdered on a bus. The scene where the film crew is interviewing the rapists who justify their actions will shock and enrage viewers. 4) Earthlings (R), extremely graphicPerhaps the most graphic and violent documentary made; this shocking film examines the horrific treatment of animals today- from the leather industry to meat products to medical experiments. You will definitely be bawling during this one- that is if you make it through more than 30 minutes of it. 5) Restrepo (R), graphicPhotographer Tim Hetherington and journalist Sebastian Junger allow the realities of war to speak for themselves in this unnarrated documentary about a U.S. platoon in Afghanistan. The men of Second Platoon, Battle Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade teeter from naivete to weariness as months of alternating boredom and fighting take their toll. The loss of medic Juan "Doc" Restrepo leads the platoon to name an outpost in the remote Korengal Valley after him. Heartbreaking and unflinching. 6) Dear Zachary: A Letter To His Son About His Father (R)In 2001, 28-year-old Dr. Andrew Bagby is found dead in a park in Pennsylvania. He had been shot by his ex-girlfriend, who then fled to Canada, where she was able to walk free on bail, pregnant with Andrew's child. Andrew's enraged parents campaign to gain custody of the child and convict their son's killer. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne pairs this story with home movies and interviews with those who knew Andrew, hoping to give his best friend's son an opportunity to discover who his dad was. No words. This film will f*** you up. 7) The Act of Killing (R), very graphicFilmmakers expose the horrifying mass executions of accused communists in Indonesia and those who are celebrated in their country for perpetrating the crime. You won't forget this one. 8) Children Underground (R), very graphicThere are 20,000 children living on the streets in Romania, and this documentary follows five of them. They live in a Bucharest subway station, panhandling and stealing to get something to eat — or worse, to get a can of paint they can huff to get high and temporarily escape their miserable conditions. 9) The Bridge (R)The majestic Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations. Unfortunately, it also is a beacon to people, struggling with depression, addiction or mental illness, who leap to their deaths into the waters of the bay. Filmmaker Eric Steel documents those suicides and interviews some of the victims' grieving survivors. Heartbreaking and powerful. 10) Deliver Us From Evil (R), mildly graphicFilmmaker Amy Berg documents the case of convicted pedophile Oliver Grady who, as a priest in northern California, molested the children of his parishioners, apparently with the knowledge of his superiors in the diocese. Berg tracks down O'Grady in Ireland, where he lives free under church protection, and allows him to give his own account of his crimes. The interview with O'Grady admitting to his crimes is chilling. |
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