Politics Magazine
This is very true, and it extends to all kinds of violence -- even the violence of words. When you let a bigoted or racist remark (or "joke") go unchallenged, you have encouraged the hater to continue promoting his hate. You have taken sides -- the side of hate and bigotry. Silence is never a neutral position when it comes to hatred. You either stand against hate, or you allow it to continue (and silence in the face of hate will be interpreted as support for it). There is no middle ground, nor should there be.