Over the last decade, we've seen a dramatic increase in violence. Movies, video games, and "sports" such as ultimate boxing are truly crossing the lines with violence. Personally, I feel that there is something seriously wrong with wanting to see another person being brutalized. And yet, check the stands at any boxing match. Filled to the top, and cheering wildly.

Vulgarity and crudeness are taking center stage as well. Comedians don't have to use wit and clever insight anymore; being crude, offensive and demeaning is an easy shortcut to filling every seat. More and more movies, cable TV shows, comedy acts and modern music are being filled up with vulgar language that is totally unnecessary.

Along with the violence and vulgarity, we get heaping doses of media where people are being degraded, disrespected, threatened, debased, shamed, and demeaned.

If we took what occurs in the media and placed those exact scenarios inside our own homes, they would be considered abuse, not entertainment. Every day, people are spending millions of dollars to bring that environment inside their homes. Being violent, angry, mean, vulgar, crude and demeaning is popular.

When and how did abuse become popular?

I suspect there are a lot of excuses for why people don't object. We can always argue that we aren't being directly offended or hurt. We aren't the ones who signed up to be pummeled to a concussion in a boxing ring. I wasn't degraded as a woman in a Gangsta Rap video. So why do I care?

I don't have to be a Black woman to care about how Black woman are treated. I don't have to be gay to stand up for gay rights. I don't have to be the reality TV star who is nationally humiliated by being set up for a fall for the entertainment of America. I simply have to be a human being. As a human being with a heart, a sense of unity and concern for mankind, I have enough reason to stand up and argue that my fellow human beings should not be treated abusively.

Forty years ago, Americans fought for human rights for men and women of all races, nationalities, creeds and orientations. That fight wasn't just about rights and stopping discrimination, it was also a fight for dignity and respect for all human beings. Why did we fight so hard to own these rights and that respect, only to give them away again? Forty years ago, American fought against the entities that held them and their fellow Americans down. Today, we support them. We are the reason for their success.

Therefore, I no longer support media that is abusive to the soul of our society. By no means do I consider myself conservative. I simply will not tolerate, nor support, media that crosses the line.

My deepest hope is that this will spark something inside you, something that will make you want to start discussions about this with people around you. If you don't like what is happening, do something about it.

Abuse and sheer meanness is only popular if we continue to support it. We have the ability in our very hands to defeat it or promote it. I've determined my path. Now it's your choice.