RE: The Dumbing down of America - Racism and violence in the USA
I believe there is a lot of power in what you do as an individual. Just being a good human being and as you said treating everyone you meet with love and respect. That reflects back to others and spreads. Love beats hate. I really believe that to be true. And I believe you can affect change by being that change as you said. I believe many of these people who are part of the white nationalist movement are disenfranchised poor uneducated people from bad families. You're born with love you have to be taught to hate.
I watched an interesting movie the other day on netflix. Its name escapes me but ill try to find it. It is about a controversial black man who meets and befriends KKK members! The interesting thing is many, most after meeting him and after some time learn to respect him realize they were wrong and many gave up their KKK robes and left the KKK. He has a whole collection of Robes from people who left. He gets some flack for what he does. But I believe he is right in doing it. He doesn't condone their actions but he starts a dialog and often that leads to them having a major change of heart and complete life change.
I heard that story too. Very inspiring. Here it is as a podcast
http://snapjudgment.org/node/52767