What is with all the "HATE"

It saddens my heart to see and hear the hatred and bigotry spewing out of people these days. Last I checked this was 2011. What has happened to our society? Are we in a backward spiral?
I don't recall a time when hatred has been so prevalent. It makes our society no better than the ones we criticize.
Take a second to think about it. Some protests funerals of our fallen soldiers. Blame natural disasters on politicians not getting along. They will hate your for your religion if it differs from theirs. The my God is better than your God mentality. Maybe your skin color is different, so that's a reason. Perhaps you love the wrong person in their eyes. You belong to a different political party.
It seems the list is endless. Hate is a learned trait. Children don't know hate, they learn it. How sad that a generation of young ones are growing up thinking hate is acceptable and normal. Why not, adults act like that, so it must be ok.
What do these people want? Maybe a stepford society would make them happy. I think not, that would be like cloning, which we know some feelings on that topic.
I realize not everyone will be happy with everything, but there really needs  to be acceptance and tolerance. We can't a people continue on this path of destruction. There is nothing productive when hate is present. Can we respect others, embrace our differences. See the beauty and wonder in all that makes us unique.
 Is there an answer or solution?
 Sadly, I think not.
But I do think if some of us, one by one can have respect and acceptance and stop our own hate. We can make a difference. Probably not change the world, but change our own piece of it. Live, Love, Laugh, we should all have that right.
Make your own change, say something nice to someone. Smile at them. You can make a difference!