I don't know that I would agree that's a hate crime, though. What IS the crime? Making people uncomfortable? Being racist? I don't believe any of that is in the penal code.
That's a good point. I'm not sure how you would go about "punishing" acts like this or even if you should. While it's someone's right to have free speech, in a residential area, this really might not be an appropriate display of that. If a KKK rally is held in a park (and they are in my area), it's your decision not to go there and experience it. If your next-door-neighbor has a hanging effigy from a tree with Nazi symbols, suggested violence, etc, you don't really have a choice not to look at it. That sort of situation is what bugs me.
So, do you believe that the term "hate crime" is legitimate in any circumstance? Are there times when demonstrations such as these become less an example of free speech and something more sinister?
This is a great discussion, by the way! :D I wish the media was brave enough to actually talk about this stuff instead of just plastering it all over the news.
I don't think the term is legit at all. The whole idea behind hate crime legislation is that (a) some crimes (if they are crimes) are worse than others because they are targeted at a specific minority and (b) something offensive can be classified as a crime (i.e. harassment or intimidation) if it is targeted at a specific minority. I think that's BS. If it's an actual crime, like murder, then it's a crime, and it shouldn't be considered worse if the victim is, for example, gay rather than straight. I don't care if the murderer killed the victim because he was anti-gay or because he wanted to rob him or because he was just in a bad mood. The death is the same, the crime is the same, and by making one type of victimization 'worse' society is basically saying that another type is more acceptable. As many folks have said -- "'Hate' crime? As opposed to a 'gee I like you lots' crime?" The vast majority of violent crime has something to do with hate... it's just that some types are less-PC than others.
*steps off soapbox*
This is a great discussion, by the way!
Aww thanks :)
:D I wish the media was brave enough to actually talk about this stuff instead of just plastering it all over the news.
Discuss? No way. Then someone in the audience might accidentally think, and we can't have that! Go back to your Obama infomercial and shut up, pleebs!
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So, do you believe that the term "hate crime" is legitimate in any circumstance? Are there times when demonstrations such as these become less an example of free speech and something more sinister?
This is a great discussion, by the way! :D I wish the media was brave enough to actually talk about this stuff instead of just plastering it all over the news.
no subject
*steps off soapbox*
This is a great discussion, by the way!
Aww thanks :)
:D I wish the media was brave enough to actually talk about this stuff instead of just plastering it all over the news.
Discuss? No way. Then someone in the audience might accidentally think, and we can't have that! Go back to your Obama infomercial and shut up, pleebs!