Thanks for posting that, E. In order to save rehashing old ground, "http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=16269126".
Your example highlights the legitimate concerns that all of us need to keep in front of us as regards injustice and abuse of the law. If this is abuse, I still do not believe that THAT fact should affect the philosophical validity of the "principle". Abuse, and the justice system, are old bedfellows with a long and incestuous relationship. Abuse is everywhere. Essentially, it does not argue for or against any particular legislation; unless it is found that it invites an intolerable level of error--this might argue for amendments.
If, however, it is not error or abuse but rather a reflection of ill conceived legislation (in the particulars of this particular state), then hopefully, "we, the people" will see that it gets fixed.
I am not at all unsympathetic to Christopher's concerns. However, I believe that highlighting crimes committed by "hate groups" makes sense in consideration of human history and experience. It also creates community expectations of standards. I know this works. I have been amazed at some of the wonderful tolerance shown by children today compared to when I grew up. As a whole, they are much more accepting of racial differences than were their parents. At least that is my experience. And I suppose one must attribute this to the educational system.
Colour, ethnicity, and religion, are the particular excuses which continue to constitute the gravest dangers to human peace and safety. If a country wished to lead the world into a higher order of civilization, some toothful laws, with the potential to abate the incidence of these crimes, would seem to constitute an essential component of such an effort.
As I said in my post to Chris, people who harm or kill because of religion or colour, do not stand for the constitutional Rights of the Republic. They are a whole nother country (some would say a whole nother species). It is important that the legislation be clearly and unequivocally capable of remarking the difference between these utterly reprehensible people and alien people--and normal everyday bigots who have no serious objections to woman voting in elections below the state level! ;)
Pretty much all the killings in history were racially and faith motivated--although it is true that robbery was often disguised as a hate crime. Hate crimes against individuals (when it is a TRUE "hate crime") are always crimes against the group. If we could keep crime down to people killing people instead of people wiping out groups based on religion or race--why there would hardly be any crime left in the world! :) |
