I'm happy we signed this bill and unhappy that it took so long. While its not the specifics of the bill that are important to me but the action that hate and lynching is designated by our leaders an unacceptable value in the U.S.(I complain a lot about how short sighted our leadership can be but when they do something right I commend them.) We need a Federal Law because sometimes there is difficulty locally prosecuting and holding people accountable for inappropriate behaviors (Selective values of who is considered local and who is "worthy" of fair treatment.). A hate law allows for more influence on how these cases are handle.
Hate is the devaluing of life (See Why We Hate) and we don't need a law to tell us that hate on this level is unacceptable; we are not talking about preference. Whether we call it murder, terrorism, or a hate crime it makes no difference...its the accountability that matters. There should have always be accountability and no person(s) have the right to look in the other direction when major crimes like this occur. The ignorant shouldn't be enforcing their values on the wiser members of society.
Its not so much about race either. I believe that any people's can hate another people's and the law should be universally applied to any such crimes. Black people in this country were treated brutally in our past and its our time to change that.....to ensure all of us live by the same values and standards. For me its not as much about Black but about fair treatment and movement beyond racial and religious ignorance to value human life (I have mixed race kids and they don't need to be any particular background to be valued and protected by the law/society. As crazy as it sounds...human life is valuable no matter its race or religion. You can't value yourself until you value others. )
I've seen and experienced hate on a heightened level that could have led to violence and/or death. The decision making during that time was completely skewed and sadistic allowing for no other alternative but what the voice of those causing the problem. Up the line people followed suit. No laws, rules, or values were applied (There were laws but they weren't being followed. Breakdowns in moral conscious occurred and dangerous rumors were spread thereafter to ensure the punishment for daring to stand up for yourself/kids was complete. I reject that and feel that accountability is necessary for movement forward. Win-Win is what I seek but that should depend on the capability of those involved to break out of their dysfunctional social networks and thinking to be a better people. I reject their distorted values of what America should look like and their warped disparate sense of value of human life. My America is a free America where we compete on our essential principles and ensure we move toward greater relevance as a grand experiment in humanism. True capitalism relies maximizing human capital for building, owning and generating; the background shouldn't matter. Innovation, economy, and human rights are all associated as a mix to a certain outcome.)
What I find fascinating and a little nauseating is that we quickly come to prescribe validity to such hate and social groups. Its bizarre that people are willing to jump on the band wagon and throw all caution to the wind. Its easy to discount the values and rights of others when they are different than yourself (Maybe better, or worse, but difference challenges distorted social perception. In addition, I support law enforcement 100% and the removal of bad apples 100%. I want good officers to be promoted, mistakes trained, diverse recruitment successful, and resources provided to increase effectiveness. I also want communities to support and keep departments on the straight path serving and protecting the people....all the people. This law helps to ensure higher levels of accountability. )
Its a great law and it will be helpful for stepping in when local enforcement defaults. We shouldn't have a need for it but it seems like an ugly necessity. Any group of bigots (no matter the race or religion) that hunts down people and kills, hurts, harms them for racial or religious reasons should not be in the general population. Definitely not in positions of authority where they can influence others. They are a danger to others and to society. Which law should really apply?
The Bill: Specifically, the bill imposes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 30 years, or both—on an individual who conspires to commit a hate crime offense that results in death or serious bodily injury or that includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.
No comments:
Post a Comment