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Crimes against community: a special kind of hate needs a special kind of law
Q: Congress is expected to expand federal hate crimes laws to add "sexual orientation" to a list that already includes "race, color, religion or national origin." Is this necessary? Should there be special laws against crimes motivated by intolerance, bigotry and hatred? Isn't a crime a crime?
It takes a special kind of hate to make a hate crime. It takes the kind of hate that targets a whole community through the torture and death of one of its members. In religious terms, this makes such a crime not just sin, but evil. In the language of law, it makes it a hate crime.
If you want to know about hate crimes, ask the mothers. Just ask Emmett Till's mother, Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley, if the racially motivated torture and killing of her 14-year-old son, Emmett was "just a crime." Unfortunately, we can't ask Mrs. Till-Mobley because she died six years ago at the age of 81, still waiting for a just verdict against the men who had murdered her son, men who had previously been acquitted by an all-white jury and then admitted the crime.
But Mrs. Till-Mobley told us what we need to know about what makes a hate crime a hate crime in her book Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime that Changed America, published the same year. In the introduction to her book she said, "I made a commitment to rip the covers off Mississippi USA--revealing to the world the horrible face of race hatred."
Not just hatred of her son, Emmett Louis Till. Race hatred. Hatred of a whole race. Hate crime.
Just ask Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard if her son's torture and murder in 1998 was "just a crime." Witnesses testified at the trial of his killers that Shepard was targeted because he was gay. His mother Judy tells us what we need to know about hate crimes in her 2009 book, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed. In her book Judy Shepard shares how she coped with her sons death and why she decided to become an international gay rights advocate.
Not just hatred of her son, Matthew Wayne Shepard, homophobic hatred. Hatred of all gay people. Hate crime.
Federal resources are needed for work on such crimes against whole communities. Often local law enforcement does not have the tools it needs, or will not use the tools it has, to investigate such crimes. That's what hate crime legislation has done and will continue to do. Because a hate crime is a crime against community, the whole country has a stake in stopping it.
It is especially important to expand and strengthen hate crimes legislation right now. As the fine work of the Southern Poverty Law Center continues to document, a renewed climate of hate is on the rise in this country. "After virtually disappearing from public view a decade ago, the antigovernment militia movement is surging across the country - fueled by fears of a black president, the changing demographics of the country and fringe conspiracy theories increasingly spread by mainstream figures."
Hate is on the rise. The very fabric of our society is at risk.
The good news is some mothers (and fathers) are brave and they speak out. They put their own grief aside and show the world their battered child's face, as did Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley, and they launch a Civil Rights movement. They speak and they testify and they write like Mrs. Judy Shepard and they help improve the legislation we all need to fight hate crimes.
This mother love is the kind of biblical love that casts out fear.
The message of these mothers to all of us is 'Don't let hate have the last word.' Together, we can stop this targeting of whole communities by naming these kinds of crimes for what they really are: hate crimes.
By
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
|
October 19, 2009; 5:32 PM ET
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Posted by: psmithphd | October 24, 2009 7:08 PM
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Oopps; That was meant for HERB SILVERMAN and WILLIAM S. ELLIOT et al:
Posted by: THE-REVELATOR | October 24, 2009 12:56 PM
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IMPORTANT Message to CONGRESS et al:
Please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Edgar_Hoover
Interesting: FBI's 1st Director (or is it KGB, M5, Massad...?), Mr. EDGAR HOOVER is said to have been a "Non-Straight" [Queer, a FAEGALAE).
Here's an Excerpt: On his SEXUALITY (Orientation? & or PREFRENCES?) "Hoover was a lifelong bachelor, and since at least the 1940s unsubstantiated rumors circulated that he was homosexual.[22] It has also been suggested that Clyde Tolson, an associate director of the FBI who was Hoover's heir, may also have been his lover.[23]"
INCAMERA (Secret): THIS is reality! Imagine, imagine a HOMOSEXUAL prefering RUSSIAN KGB agent whom goes around the World "Infiltrating" ALL known & unknown "NON-Straights" 9Queers, Faggitts..) so that They can have, not only a sexual Advantage; but a NATIONAL SECURITY ONE; all because Stupid CONGRESS had nothing else better to Do!
FACT: It is the NON-STRAIGHTs [Globally & Locally) dealings via their Fantacy times Whom are a NATIONAL SECURITY risk for the average John/Jane DOE at large in America or in any nation.! Selling (knowing or not knowing) a Nation for "Sexual Prefrence or Orientation' via Sexual Orgasims (if any) is the Lowest way to undermine a Nation.
Note: CORPORATE ESPIONAGE in Corporate America is also not Risk-Free via the NON-STRAIGHT [a great Tool to Steal & Destroy) movements International/Locals!
WAKe-UP AMERIK & Friendly's!
Disclaimer: If anyone gets offended by expressing-out here, that it is not our intention. Simply Move-On go to another Page/Link. Thanks.
Posted by: THE-REVELATOR | October 24, 2009 12:54 PM
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October 24, 2009
Relative to the so-called hate crimes legislation recently passed, it is indeed right that no one should be subjected to physical abuse of any kind, either to one’s person or property. Freedom of speech should continue to be protected, of course, thus no one should be physically, financially or in any other way mistreated for speaking.
True followers of God are taught, however, to return good for evil, to turn the other cheek, and thus we should try to show love rather than revenge. Those perpetrating such abuse, though, should also be held to account in some way. Both justice and mercy need to be addressed.
The line between freedom of speech and illegal actions is crossed not only when abuse is inflicted on people or property, but when property is vandalized or intimidation causes people to lose employment or any other valued situations.
It is ironic and sad, thus, that many who have championed hate crimes legislation are themselves in turn guilty of the same against whose who disagree with their views about marriage and sexuality. Members of my religion in California, for example, have been subjected to intimidation and mistreatment for their support of Proposition 8.
In fairness, then, should not those perpetrating such crimes also be help to account? Should not their hate crimes lead to prosecution?
Phillip C. Smith, Ph.D.