I normally do not use this blog to make political statements, but wished to make an exception for what I feel is an important cause: battling modern day discrimination and hate.
Yesterday, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr.
Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would effectively expand the federal definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. It also will allow federal authorities to pursue hate-crimes cases when local authorities are either unable or unwilling to do so.
Matthew Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998)The point I hear often against this law: How can you make a violent act more punishable than just committing the actual crime itself? Isn't murder for money, or passion the same as one that is perpetrated out of hate? And if we do this, how do we define hate? How can we punish those for thought?
James Byrd (May 2, 1949 - June 7 1998)
It's a question that I would ask... isn't murder just murder? However, the killing of perceived inferiors and physical maiming based upon prejudice has been the foundation for acts from lynching to genocide... These are SOCIETAL values these laws are defining, and any thing shaping the dialogue to tolerate diversity, I will be behind.
For those that protest that we are encroaching upon people's freedoms, I say YES it is. But WHICH freedom do you support to be protected: the freedom to act upon held prejudices that denigrate personal liberty or the freedom to know that who you are is validated in this land of opportunity and freedom ? I will go with the latter.
I believe that we are setting societal standards with this law. And no, I still feel the government shouldn't have to legislate this, but the message needs to get through harder. Again, I feel we are shaping the dialogue of our nation to recognize when something is wrong, just as our predecessors shaped the language of this country to recognize equal rights for women, protection of children in labor, condemnation of racial segregation...I think it's easy to forget that in America's history, even these values were questioned.
Injury inflicted upon someone for who they are is the most personal violation of civil and individual liberties, something I feel slaps the face of individual freedom and the right to to simply
be. Who you are should be no reason for someone to validate an attack upon you, or to decide it's time to take you out of this world.
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I used to get so scared of this pic. Now my brother wants to turn it into a t-shirt.
Levi
(Dark Equation 2 - 2009)
