If you were playing nice, you'd shut the fuck up with your efforts to secure a last word....but having said that, I'll play nice. Here goes:
Blueskies wrote: My point of contention in the first place was to show that the law as written is non-discriminating and I stated that it SHOULD be brought against all who have committed a crime based on their prejudicial bias.
But, you do realize that such a thing only happens in your fantasy world. Hey listen, I'd be perfectly happy watching a law get applied fairly and equally, without taking race into consideration...but that hasn't happened up until now. The fact remains that hate crime serves to protect blacks and gays, while not protecting any one else.
You can not have a law designed to bring about equality of race, religious beliefs, sexual preference, etc....while acting out the very things it's designed to discourage. It's NOT possible.
If legislators have come to the conclusion that current laws protecting people from assault, rape and murder are ineffective, tacking on another law isn't going to make any sense, whatsoever. Which is effectively what hate crimes are.
"Your honor, I object to this witness"
"Over-ruled"
"No, your honor, I *strenuously* object!"
"Oh, in that case, counselor, allow me to reconsider!"
That's the message you send with hate crime legislation...that the current laws protecting people from Rape, Murder and Assault are INEFFECTIVE!!!! If you need another law to highlight a really bad murder (i.e. one by your definition is a 'hate crime) over just a garden-variety one, then something's VERY wrong with the original law.
The law should NOT have any eyes with respect to color, creed, religion or sexual preference. It should apply the same harsh penalties, irrespective of the person's motivation...BECAUSE THE ACT IS ACTION THAT IS BREAKING THE LAW. Not the intent.
If we could be thrown in jail for intent of a crime...I'd be living there, 24-7.....Hell, yesterday, I was in Guitar Center...and a Les Paul Axcess was standing 10 feet from the door. I immediately thought "how far would I get if I grabbed that and made a dash for the parking lot?" Did I actually do it? No...and I would never....but intent should mean nothing to the crime. The act of stealing the guitar and running out of the store should be the reason. Is it going to matter if I went "Oh wait, I really love Neal Schon, so I really need this guitar...please don't throw me in jail, just give me parole!"
That's the double standard propagated by Hate Crime legislation.
And this is before you inject the racial-tensions and other ramifications of hate-crime legislation. By supporting such trash you do nothing but support (and line the pockets) of racist pigs like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and racists in congress....who WANT there to be a racial divide. They NEED there to be a racial divide. Because so long as there's a white man to blame for a black man's lot in life, the black man will vote for someone who will champion their wants (notice I didn't say needs). Welfare proponents, affirmative action proponents, etc...all benefit from a black group in this country that is under-privileged...NOT over-priveledged.
You're closed-minded because you refuse to accept this as very real issue that needs addressing, despite the fact that everyone who has argued on my side of this, has conceded that there are currently racial divides in this country.
Your solutions do nothing but either widen the gap or keep it where it is.
Blueskies wrote:
Like I said, the focus of that article is about the UNDER REPORTING of crimes of blacks on whites that may in fact be racially motivated and that is another issue and not one I was addressing.
Bullshit phyllis, it's the same issue. 100%. You can NOT say that hate crime legislation is necessary, when it is only effective and being enforced in favor of one group of people. You can't have your cake and eat it too.