Hate is a powerful thing. It can tear individuals and groups apart, destroy hope and end lives. But when there is hate around, it is important to Aask yourself an important question: are you part of the problem, the solution… or are you neither?
This was the theme of Journey to a Hate Free Millennium, the presentation put on in Dodds Theater on Wednesday, September 15. The Office of Intercultural Relations, along with the Office of Residential Life, the Office of Student Activities, and the Victimology Club, brought inspirational speaker and Hollywood casting director Brent Scarpo on campus to talk about the hate that has enveloped both college campuses and the country as a whole.
During his time in Hollywood, Brent has worked on several famous movies, including Air Force One, Matilda, and The Shawshank Redemption. Bearing witness to all the violence, intolerance and hatred in the nation and the world, he created a documentary entitled “Journey to a Hate Free Millennium: Stories of Compassion and Hope” that chronicled three critical events that changed America.
The first event was the murder of James Byrd Jr., who in June of 1998 was beaten, dragged across the pavement while tied to a chain connected to a moving car, and finally decapitated on a culvert because he was black. The second was the death of Matthew Shephard, who in October of 1998 was tortured and left for dead because he was gay. The third and most famous event was the Columbine High School Massacre of 1999, where teenagers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold embarked on a killing spree that left 15 dead (including themselves) and over twenty more injured.
In the documentary, Brent took these three events and tied them all to the theme of hate. He explained how the action and inaction of individuals and groups led to these tragedies. For example, Shawn A. Barry was one of the three men that were charged with James Byrd Jr.’s death. However, court investigations proved that he had not taken part in Byrd’s beating, nor did he tie him to the car. At the same time, Barry never challenged or objected to what the other two men chose to do. In Brent’s own words, “Shawn A. Barry is serving two life sentences because he did nothing”.
Referring to the movies that he worked on, Brent explained that Matilda was about a girl who was hated for her gifts. In the same vein, Byrd and Shephard were essentially hated because of who they were. Columbine was an example of what could happen as a result of hate and isolation. Investigations preceding the massacre found that Harris and Klebold had both dealt with isolation and bullying prior to the shooting.
Brent reminded us that it isn’t enough simply to abstain from hurting others; he said we have to rise up, speak out against the hate, and support those who are struggling. It’s important that victims of hate don’t have their hope overshadowed by their fear. Quoting from The Shawshank Redemption, Brent gave the audience some very powerful words, “Fear can hold you prisoner; hope can set you free”.
And to those losing hope right now, Brent referred back to Matilda, telling us to “always look for that Miss Honey in our lives” (a character from Matilda, referring to that one person who will always love you unconditionally).
Lastly, Brent gave the audience a homework assignment. Take a piece of blank paper, write “Why Was I Born?” across it and reflect upon that question for a couple of minutes. Return to it from time to time. Brent said that the answer he received the first time he tried it scared him.
Will it scare you?
