Want some hate? How about this? I hate stuff like this:
The Senate version of hate crimes legislation will be called the "Matthew Shepard Act" in honor of the young college student whose death in Laramie Wyoming gripped the nation eight years ago. It was introduced Thursday, April 12 by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and Gordon Smith (R-Oregon).
The bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories already covered by federal hate crimes protections. It would allow training and funding in these areas and give federal authorities the power to intervene if state and local authorities do not act appropriately.
All this and like "hate crime" legislation needs to be done away with. The very name "hate crime" is offensive to me.
I'm all in favor of harsh penalties for wrong acts, but we should not be punishing emotions behind those acts. Laws such as these are basically saying "these reasons are BAD reasons to assault or murder innocent people." Does that mean there are GOOD reasons to assault or murder innocent people? (Wouldn't lots of people we disagree with say there ARE good reasons for that?) I don't like the message that sends. As well, why should the government be deciding which feelings are wrong and right, and which emotions are hateful or not? Do we really want the government deciding such subjective things?
I mean, really--I don't give a rat's ass what my murderer feels in his heart as he's killing me. I'm not less dead if he loves me.
Punish people for their acts, not their emotions. Otherwise, how soon before we decide to punish people JUST for their emotions, no matter whether they act on them? It's the next step, and people are going to want it. Mark my words.