Too many of us like to think that we have made great progress in human relations and that little remains to be done. Unmoderated comments provide an antidote to such ridiculous conclusions. It’s not like the rest of us don’t know those words and hear them occasionally, depending on where we choose to tread, but most of us don’t want to have to confront them.

The subjects that have generated the most vitriol during my tenure in this role are race and immigration. The racist comments showed up regularly during the presidential campaign and have continued at a slower pace since Barack Obama’s election. Racist remarks often accompany stories about crime and violence. The untimely death of the Washington Redskins’ Sean Taylor would be the most appalling example. Where does this hate come from? Do we need to know it’s here?

Yes, we do.