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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Hate Crimes

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Hate crimes are in the news again.

I remember when George Bush got into trouble with the Hate Crimes people after that lynching in Texas while he was Governor. He was raked across the coals because he was opposed to Hate Crimes Legislation.

He pointed out that he had just signed death warrants for two of the perps and a life in Prison for the third. This of course was not enough for the folks who want to identify some people as special, and crimes against that group is, in some sense, more bad than against the rest of the population.

Do they want the guilty to get more than death? Do they want the extra sentence carried out before the execution or after? What is with these folks?

By the way:
Are you in favor the right of free speech?
Are you in favor of hate speech?
Do you think hate speech is included in free speech?

How did his friend describe Voltaire's views on freedom of speech: "I disagree with everything you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it!" - unless of course it is hate speech.
Posted by Unknown at 10:32 PM
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3 comments:

  1. TomMarch 26, 2012 at 7:46 AM

    I am not in favor of a legal category for hate crimes or hate speech. In my opinion both crimes and speech stand on their own without the “hate” (or any other) qualifier.

    The Trayvon Martin case comes to mind. There are a large number of people, nationwide, that are genuinely indignant that Zimmerman has not been arrested for this “hate” crime. Unfortunately language gets in the way. In this instance the indignation is not about a “hate” crime it is about what is perceived as a “race” crime and more precisely “racial” enforcement of the law.

    While the situation is on the verge of being incendiary I am not ready to suspend due process and I have little respect for those who advocate doing so.

    On the same issue I would defend the Black Panther’s right to say what they wish on the topic as long as they and everyone else realizes that there are consequences to putting a $10,000 bounty on Zimmerman. I do find it inconsistent that I have not heard condemnation or indignation concerning the Panther’s offer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. HonoriaMarch 27, 2012 at 9:29 PM

    Tom--I've seen quite a bit of criticism of the Panthers. The most effective--as might be expected--comes from Jon Stewart.

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  3. TomMarch 28, 2012 at 7:04 AM

    Honoria, yeah I am a Stewart fan as well. Still if the most effective criticism comes from Jon Stewart it would only support my original complaint.

    Since my original post I too have seen sincere criticism of the Panthers from serious news sources. Much better.

    ReplyDelete

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