A person's environment will constantly have an effect on their personality and their character. That is an indisputable fact. Their culture and their heritage will play a fundamental part in their attitudes, beliefs, and values. People cannot help what environment they are given. Should they be held solely responsible for what poisons them based on where they live, or who their parents are? Should the coalminer be blamed for his blackened lungs, or the baby for having aids?
             These stories were specifically created to illustrate culturally stimulated hate crimes. The stories concern a homosexual country boy, an interracial relationship in the south, and a Muslim in corporate America.
             Chris grew up in the country. He never had many friends. The few he did have, the good ones, were girls. He always connected with girls much easier. He would tell you that he has always been gay, but he "came out of the closet" when he was 13. He first told his best friend Jenny. She was surprised, but not shocked. Her response made him think that people here might be all right with this. Many of his friends had Baptist families. Baptists, out of all the protestant denominations, tend to be most critical of homosexuals. The Fathers of many of the boys he knew were very anti-homosexual, therefore that made the boys more anti-homosexual. He in no way feared for his life until the night after the football game. Jenny had not kept the confidence that he had anticipated. She had gossiped to a few of her friends, and like the way of things, the whole school ultimately found out. A few of the boys had stopped him in the parking lot to harass him. The commotion drew more people and eventually there was a crowd. Many of the boys were getting aggressive and a few kicked him. He kept completely silent through the whole ordeal. He eyes remained transfixed on the ground below him. One boy, who had too much to drink, decided to hit him in the back...