What's with all the hate?

I am dumbfounded. I came across a page on Facebook over the weekend (the page has since been removed due to the diligence of many members of Facebook pushing for its removal) that astounded me. I sat here looking at the words on the page with utter disdain. I honestly did not think that, in this day in age, people could be so hateful to one another. The racial slurs being thrown back and forth between all parties involved had me in tears. Not because they were directed at me, but because people honestly thought that they could say such hateful things to one another. There were African-Americans calling Caucasians "Cracker" and "Honkey" amongst other names, there were Caucasians calling African-Americans "N----r". Both groups were slopping these words back and forth like they use them every day. Racism is alive and well. I could kick myself in the ass for thinking that in 2011 there wouldn't be so much hate, but that page single-handedly brought my ideas of the world crashing down.
I was raised by one of the most loving and compassionate people in the world. My Marmie. She raised me not to judge someone by the color of their skin, but by their actions. She raised me to stand up for what I believe. And most importantly she raised me to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes" before I judge them. Understand where they are coming from first. I try my best to do that. I am not going to lie sometimes it is really hard, especially with people like those mentioned above. But I do my best. I try my hardest to help other people see where I am coming from, but it is like people are so wrapped up in their own views and what is right for them, that they refuse to see another person's point of view for anything. Trust me. If you actually listened to another person's point of view you might actually learn a thing or two about your own point of view. Now I am not saying that you have to agree with the other person. Far from it actually. Listening to another person's point of view may actually strengthen your belief.
Resorting to hate to "win" an argument is not winning at all. In fact it is quite the opposite. Resorting to "bashing" someone during an argument just makes you look ignorant. It makes you seem like you have no facts or credible arguments so you just "bash" the other person to distract from that fact. So I leave you with this. No matter what another person's view is, listen for one minute, then calmly explain your view. If they start speaking in circles, "bashing", or do not seem just as willing to listen, then quit wasting your time with them. Move on to someone that will actually listen to your point of view.