Challenging Opponents of the Hate Crimes Law

I talk a bit about the hate crimes law that Obama signed recently. IMPORTANT: Just to be clear, NOT ALL of the opposition to the bill is based on prejudice, but many of my conservative friends freely admit to believing that homosexuality alone is acceptable grounds for judging someone as acting immorally. I would be naive to think that this is a non-factor, wouldn't I?

Also, hate crimes are NOT thought crimes! There is never a circumstance under the law where thought or speech alone is criminal. Along with a violent crime, a hate crime is essentially an aggravating circumstance, and it also does NOT mean that white on black crime is *automatically* a hate crime. It doesn't work that way, and it is a weak straw man argument against the law.

Text of the Hate Crimes Law
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/National_Defense_Authorization_Act_for_Fiscal_Y...

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• hate
• crimes
• law
• Obama
• matthew
• shepard
• james
• byrd
• dc
• sniper
• beltway
• serial
• killers
• murderers
• gay
• homosexuals
• homosexuality
• black
• hispanic
• prejudice
• skinheads
• KKK

[Naiant]

[cont.] have a different mindest than other criminals. In other words, you are advocating punishing people not just for committing a deed, but for having a certain mindset. You are advocating establishing thought crimes. Society has the right to limit my deeds, but not to limit my thoughts. This is the most basic of rights, and establishing a category of "hate crimes" is a violation of that right.

[Naiant]

My two objections:

1. My life is worth as much as anyone else's. Yes, you addressed this, but I do think that crimes against policemen et al. should be punished more stringently, first, because an attack agains them is also an attack on society, and second, because the protectors should be protected. I say this, by the way, as a member of a religious minorty whose members and property have been attacked for religious reasons.

2. You say it yourself: those who commit "hate crimes" [cont.]

[Zaunstar]

@ambidextrality OK, now we're getting somewhere. Perhaps you can tell me what you believe SHOULD be socially acceptable, in a "non-wussy" society, that is not today. Maybe we'll make some progress in our discussion.

[WorldBFree2006]

@ambidextrality How do you know you've studied more law than I have. I could have a PHD in Criminal Justice for all you know. It's also extremely funny how you'll call me a simpleton when you can't even read a bill of law before commenting on it. Why don't you spend less time name-calling and more time studying, because however much you've studied law is clearly not enough...

[ambidextrality]

@Zaunstar But McCain's attacks could easily have been hate crimes, under this bill. As would justifiable assaults. You talk about weakness. You're the one being racist over what a small minority did or perhaps over the Holocaust, while paradoxically ignoring violent black crimes. Your video shows that you're the weak one.

[ambidextrality]

@Zaunstar You're failing to realize that someone can hate someone and also be forced to defend themselves. John McCain is now barred from defending himself against Asians, as he would then be branded a hate criminal. You're also failing to realize how someone could easily be branded a hate criminal when they're not. It's far too easy in our wussy society. Of which you're obviously a member of.

[ambidextrality]

@WorldBFree2006 Never say never. I've studied more law than you have, so shut up and go away now, simpleton.

[WorldBFree2006]

@ambidextrality You don't know what you're talking about... You my friend are gravely misinformed. Not that that would ever be a problem for me because I've never in my 30 years of life have found it necessary to use a racial, ethnic, homophobic, or sexist comment no matter how much I dislike someone. I will defend anyone's right to say such things, however you need not worry your pretty head about hate speech it's still very legal under this bill...

[ambidextrality]

@WorldBFree2006 The law is not ONLY for murder. It includes any physical act. Simply brushing against someone and yelling at them is an assault an battery, you idiot. Why SHOULD someone get a tremendous penalty just because they said a bad word? What the fuck is wrong with you? I can't wait to see this law explode on your dumb ass. You will deserve it.

[ambidextrality]

@WorldBFree2006 And by the way, all of that is trumped if you said a bad word to the person you were fighting with, which is extremely common during fights. That's fucking wrong and you're a fucking retard to selfishly support something so unamerican.