Spring Break
'Gay' crimes should be hate crimes
Julie Lord
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Opinion
President George W. Bush has said he will veto the bill if it ever gets to him. Throughout both of his terms in office, Bush has shown us his ignorance knows no bounds, and this is especially true in the case of homosexual rights. From the proposed constitutional amendment "protecting marriage" between a man and a woman to refusing to acknowledge violence based on sexual orientation as a hate crime, this man has shown us again and again he has no tolerance for people who are different from him.
As a society, are we really that threatened by homosexuality? Are we going to look the other way when young people are beaten and killed just for being who they are? Sexual orientation is one of the last great prejudices in our country - a prejudice that has been repeatedly supported by our own government.
Presidential candidates are finally beginning to discuss this issue. I want to urge everyone to start paying attention to what these candidates have to say about the recent violence in California; their opinions on this matter might give us good insight into how they view the citizens of this country.
When hatred of a group of people begets violence or other criminal action, it becomes a hate crime. It does not matter if the crime is based on race, religion, sexual identity, disability, age or gender: Hate is hate. If our government can't protect us from this form of terrorism, who can?
As young voters and American citizens, we can be the generation to eliminate this prejudice. We can talk openly about these issues. This is not about your personal sexual orientation: This issue is about refusing to stand for discrimination of any kind.
It has been said by many - including one of our current presidential candidates - those who stand for nothing will fall for anything. We have been falling for the Bush administration's unique brand of ignorance and discrimination for far too long. It would seem we are ready for a change. Maybe we should start asking a new question: In this upcoming election, what are we standing for?
As a society, are we really that threatened by homosexuality? Are we going to look the other way when young people are beaten and killed just for being who they are? Sexual orientation is one of the last great prejudices in our country - a prejudice that has been repeatedly supported by our own government.
Presidential candidates are finally beginning to discuss this issue. I want to urge everyone to start paying attention to what these candidates have to say about the recent violence in California; their opinions on this matter might give us good insight into how they view the citizens of this country.
When hatred of a group of people begets violence or other criminal action, it becomes a hate crime. It does not matter if the crime is based on race, religion, sexual identity, disability, age or gender: Hate is hate. If our government can't protect us from this form of terrorism, who can?
As young voters and American citizens, we can be the generation to eliminate this prejudice. We can talk openly about these issues. This is not about your personal sexual orientation: This issue is about refusing to stand for discrimination of any kind.
It has been said by many - including one of our current presidential candidates - those who stand for nothing will fall for anything. We have been falling for the Bush administration's unique brand of ignorance and discrimination for far too long. It would seem we are ready for a change. Maybe we should start asking a new question: In this upcoming election, what are we standing for?
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 23
Joe
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:09 PM CST
Is this an article about hate crimes or Just an excuse to bash the current administration? Anyway, most states (that I am aware of) have some sort of hate crime statue. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:11 PM CST
...Statute...before you cry about spelling in lieu of no argument.
Stephen Stocker
posted 3/05/08 @ 12:05 AM CST
Yep Joe. Just like the state statute in Mississippi (and elsewhere) protecting the rights of blacks in the early '60s.
With all the disasters of the current administration, why would anyone need to use the murder of an innocent 15 year old boy as an "excuse" to "bash" it?
Bob Zuley
posted 3/05/08 @ 10:03 AM CST
Sorry, but you're misinformed on this one. It is indeed a senseless tragedy that Lawrence King was executed in his school by a classmate, but Hate Crime laws won't bring Larry or any other victim back. (Continued…)
Jason
posted 3/05/08 @ 10:07 AM CST
The first comment is correct. This article was just one more reason to attack Bush.
The author ignores their own admission that "this bill has stalled out in (the Democratic) Congress" in 2007. (Continued…)
John K.
posted 3/05/08 @ 11:55 AM CST
Jason: The federal government HAS enacted this sort of legislation with respect to race and national origin. If it doesn't have the power to do so, the Supreme Court has not yet stated so. (Continued…)
Alouiscious
posted 3/05/08 @ 2:24 PM CST
QUOTE:
"When hatred of a group of people begets violence or other criminal action, it becomes a hate crime. It does not matter if the crime is based on race, religion, sexual identity, disability, age or gender: Hate is hate. (Continued…)
Jase
posted 3/05/08 @ 11:25 PM CST
Only in 20 states are GLBT persons protected under the law from hate crimes and discrimination. That does NOT equal "almost all states". Federal legislation is needed because it would be the foundation for equal treatment for all states when you cross from one into the other. (Continued…)
John K.
posted 3/05/08 @ 11:54 PM CST
Joe: It can stand on it's own in the Congress; that is, it can get a majority in both houses, but REPUBLICANS in the Senate can filibuster it, requiring 60 votes (not exactly "the will of the majority" that anti-gays love to talk about), and a REPUBLICAN president refuses to sign it anyway. (Continued…)
John K.
posted 3/06/08 @ 3:50 PM CST
My apologies, I was confusing you with Jason, who suggested before that we should be blaming the Democrats. Consider the comments I made on the subject directed at him. (Continued…)
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