Hate Crimes

Hate crimes have been around forever, but now some hate crimes if determined to be indeed these type of crimes, may be prosecuted federally.

Hearsay: Recently in Missouri at a college university, a couple of foolish students decided two scatter white cotton balls around a black organization. These particular students where of white origin. These students who committed this "crime" caused a university uproar. The offenders were Caucasian.

The offenders were apprehended, and disciplined. Here is the puzzle. No doubt this was stupid to do. Before "Hate Crime's became popular, these two students, if apprehended even would had been charged with littering. A small fine or warning may had been enough before hate was allegedly defined by statute. In reality, the organization "targeted" with "Hate" was a "Black organization" with a title that suggested to many that it was for "blacks only."

So the question her may be by definition if for example a club, by it;s mere title can any club that states the obvious membership of its members only, be prosecuted for a hate crime too? Is the NAACP a Hate Club merely by it's title? To this writer the NAACP is not a "Hate Club;" but some people may feel excluded by the title of that organazation right off the bat.

The title of that organization suggests that only certain folks can join, or at least that it con notates that. What do you think?

What if two 16 year old siblings get in a fist fight and it escalates into an all out assault. I have direct experience with this readers. If an utterance of "I hate you" occurs before a knife is held for example at my chest is that a "hate crime" or a assault or a domestic abuse issue.

This last one is interesting, because it did happen, and what if..........

John Q. was working his shift as a security guard when a combative patient called John a "Dago." Dago is a highly offensive term to call to an Italian. The guard was assaulted and witnesses heard the perp's utterance of that insult.

The guard defended himself. By description of the guards physical attributes, he could had been Italian, a Jewish individual, or many other ethnic "titles." The guard was "slightly" Italian. The guard was Caucasian too. Maybe a little Irish. Should that guard pursue a hate crime based on some Italian heritage?

If a parent is having a hard day and says to him-or herself, "Lord I hate kids." is that a "Hate Crime.?" Should the offending parent be prosecuted just for saying that?

Now it is likely that most won't read this, and that they would prefer to read why for example a list of why " Dogs are better than cats." This writer "hates" that. OOPS!