hearts in the trim

There have been two prominent instances where I am contently enjoying myself and am interrupted by an act of hate. In my naive mind, I assumed that going to a small Christian college in the middle of nowhere would exempt me from the discouragement you can readily recieve in a city (for example, angry drivers and pushy pedestrians). However, this is not the case. People anywhere can be mean.
Me and my friends went skiing once at a local hill/mountain, and the night wasn't too busy. I was at the end of my run where the ski-lift takes off, when I hear people yell 'Fuck you'. Surprised, I look around and see three guys laughing on a ski-lift chair, and only myself on the run. I didn't understand, until I remembered I was wearing my Canadian toque. Could that be the reason? I couldn't find any other explanation, and was sort of hurt that my nationality was an issue to someone.
Then, just today, me and my friend were running the road by Houghton, and a van drove by me (we were on the dirt side, as there aren't any sidewalks) and threw two bottles at me. This made me angry, even though I didn't get hit. I looked back and was ready to flip them off or yell out, when I realized it would be what they wanted: a reaction. Perhaps I've learned this because of my brother (if he's teasing you, he wants a reaction. don't get mad, and eventually he'll stop. doesn't always work, mom) or from the teachings of Christ. What does it really mean to 'turn the other cheek'? And how do we know when we should actually be standing up against injustice?
Now, my instances were nothing like the racism or hurt that other people have experienced, but it did remind me of how such things cause anger and bitterness. My own reaction to not be angry was to run faster and listen to a rap song. Others, in circumstances of great pain, will have much more of a challenge.
Lately my thoughts have been occupied with this; the way of the world. Where is it that I am needed to stand up for injustice? Where is it that I need to turn the other cheek and keep offering my heart despite the pain? Heck, what does that even look like? Sometimes I catch glimpses of what love really is, and a lot of the time I see what hate really is. Films like Hotel Rwanda and Born into Brothels are great portrayals of this; the overwhelming magnitude of hate and sin of the world, and how the power of showing love or standing up for the hurt is slowly overcoming it.