I really wanted to title this something different, but we'll get to that after the fold.
The only reason I'm putting this as a diary, is because the same thought went through my head and my mom's head as we watched the Chicago CBS news tonight about this story.
ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) ― Students at Elmhurst College held a sit-in, protesting a gunpoint attack on a Muslim student in a campus building restroom.
The attack happened after another incident now being investigated as a hate crime. The gay and lesbian student group at the school staged the sit-in to protest the crime and any acts of discrimination.
Now, on the face value of this story, this is another hate crime over someone who practices a different religion. And as such I normally wouldn't say much about it. But in today's current political climate, I couldn't help but think my first thought as I watched this "is this related to the hate speeches that are running amok on the campaign trail".
To be fair, apparently the threats started a week ago:
About a week ago the same woman who was victimized Thursday night found her locker defaced with the words "Die Muslims." The graffiti included a swastika along with other threats aimed at Muslim students.
What really bothers me, is my mom turned to me and asked me the same question that was bouncing around in my head. Is this indicative of the heated politics and racial slurs being tossed around by the McCain campaign? Did their rhetoric finally push this person to actually harm another human being and leave them another threat? And if so, considering the two threats and bodily harm they've done to this poor girl, how far are they going to go if this rhetoric continues?
The victim, a sophomore or junior, reported being struck by the masked offender with his gun, but no shots were fired, Henderson said. The description of the alleged attacker is vague: a white male, about 5-feet-8-inches tall and wearing a ski mask.
The victim's mother said the victim is at home recovering and expects to speak to investigators Friday.
Fortunately, the girl is ok, well, at least physically anyways. My thoughts are with the family and I hope the police find this jerk. Hate crime, whether politically motivated or not, has no place in our society.
So maybe I'm being hyper-sensitive to all the news lately this past week, but I'll let you guys judge.