Sky Views: Something really nasty is on the rise in America

Greg Milam, US correspondent

While we all fixate on Donald Trump and Russia, hate is boiling up across the United States.

The latest numbers - hate crimes increased in 2017 in America's 10 largest cities - are one thing. The videos of what America is becoming are even more shocking.

Every day seems to bring a new mobile video of hate, intolerance or aggression, generally based on race or religion, and some of them get a lot of attention.

There was the white man harassing a woman because of her Puerto Rico shirt, while a police officer stands idly by.

There was another white man threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report Spanish-speaking employees at a restaurant in New York.

The black family challenged by a white neighbour over the use of their community's swimming pool.

In fact numerous incidents of the police being called to report black people for, just as an example, having a barbecue, delivering newspapers, buying a meal or - most notoriously - selling water on the street.

There was pretty swift backlash against some of those who called the cops - including the ones mocked online as 'Permit Patty' and 'BBQ Betty' - and the swimming pool guy lost his job. The lawyer who threatened to call ICE has apologised and says he isn't a racist.

But even while writing this, social media has lit up with the video of a white man repeatedly using the n-word towards another driver.

That's just some of the filmed incidents. How many more are there when someone didn't have a camera to hand or was too intimidated or shocked to record what was going on?

So, who or what is to blame?

It's easy to say it is the consequence of the country being led by a president who routinely denigrates Latinos and Muslims, talks of "shithole countries" and western "culture" being threatened by immigration.

It's easy to say for a reason. If he has no shame about hurling insults, why would anyone else?

A country that was built by migrants has become an angry, polarised place. Plenty of people talk about healing the division, no one has yet demonstrated the leadership to do it.

A group which studies hate crimes and extremism says "incivility" in national politics, including language surrounding the president's controversial travel ban for example, is a factor in the increase in incidents.

They also say there are usually more hate crimes in election year - and 2018 is an election year in America.

A country that was built by migrants has become an angry, polarised place. Plenty of people talk about healing the division, no one has yet demonstrated the leadership to do it.

Depressingly, for now it looks like only check on hateful behaviour is the fear of being caught on camera and shamed online.

And even that doesn't stop some.

Sky Views is a series of comment pieces by Paste BN editors and correspondents, published every morning.

Previously on Sky Views: Adam Boulton - MPs' summer madness 'off the scale'