What is a hate crime? According to the Department of Justice and the FBI a hate crime “is a criminal offense committed against a person, property, or society which is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin.” In essence a hate crime is defined as a crime in which the motivation is one of bigotry.
I postulate that hate crimes statutes are a perversion of justice that elevate a class of victims over others and lifts the blindfold from lady justice’s eyes. Hate crimes statutes also implicitly state that all humans are not equal and certain members of the human race are more valuable than others. Finally, and possibly most perversely, hate crimes statutes are designed to punish the privately held thoughts and beliefs of the perpetrator of the crime.
Before you walk away let me explain the preceding paragraph. The Declaration of Independence starts by laying out the First Principles of this nation. It states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This country is founded on the belief that all men are created equal. Logically then, all men are equal before the law. To enact harsher penalties for crimes committed against a certain subset of the population is to deny this principle of equality and declare that certain people have greater inherent value than others. This is no different than saying kings have a hereditary right to rule or white people have a natural right to keep slaves. All are equally offensive when viewed through the prism of “all men are created equal.” I believe that all humans are unique, precious, and of inestimable value. All human life should be rigorously defended, regardless of skin color, personal beliefs, gender, age, or any other way you wish to group people. All are created equal and all are equally precious. We owe it to each and every member of the human family to vigorously defend their unalienable rights. Hate crime statutes fly in the face of that belief by declaring that certain people are more valuable in the eyes of the law than others, and for that reason alone hate crimes statutes should be abolished.
Secondly hate crimes statues should be abolished because they lift the blindfold from lady justice’s eyes. When an individual is charged with a hate crime, the victim of the crime is not viewed as a person, but rather as member of a group. The machinery of justice then attempts to punish the perpetrator not for the crime committed against the victim, but for the crime committed against the group. This denies the real victim justice because lady justice is no longer hearing his case, but is looking at the group the victim represents. Crimes are not committed against groups. Crimes are committed against individuals. Crimes are violations of an INDIVIDUAL’S rights. To treat the crime as anything other than that is to deny justice to the victim.
Finally hate crimes statutes should be abolished because they put the defendant’s personal beliefs on trial. In theory this is a country where you are free to believe and think whatever you wish to believe or think, regardless of how that aligns with societal norms. When a defendant is charged with a hate crime, his private beliefs and ideas are put on trial and if he is found guilty, then he is punished for those beliefs and ideas. Crimes, by their very nature, require conscious action on the part of the perpetrator. To put someone on trial for their thoughts is not only absurd, it is unconstitutional. Thinking about robbing a bank is not a crime; walking into a bank with a weapon and committing a robbery is. In a free society, based on the rule of law, you may believe whatever you chose, no matter how offensive those beliefs may be. What you are not allowed to do is to act in such a way as to violate the rights of others. Hate crimes statutes violate this principle by putting the defendant’s private beliefs on trial.
For these reasons I disagree with the notion of “hate crimes”. All crimes are filled with hate and disregard for the victim. Justice should not be denied to the victims of any crime. Victims are individuals and are entitled to see justice served on an individual basis. We, as a society based on the rule of law, owe them no less. Likewise, defendants deserve a speedy and fair trial of their actions and not their personal beliefs. All men are created equal and all men are equally entitled to be fairly judged for their actions by the law.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thank You Patriots of WWII
Today marks the 65th anniversery of D-Day. I am posting a letter that I wrote to my Grandfather to thank him for his service in World War II. He served in the Navy in the Pacific during the war after leaving college and enlisting at 17 years old. He is an American Hero, as are all the Americans who answered the call and took up arms in that dark hour. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Take a moment today and tell a World War II vet, "Thank You."
Grandpa,
I have the deepest respect for you, both as a Godly man and example to me, and as a man who answered the call of duty in his country’s hour of need. I am grateful beyond words for what you and those you served with achieved. Your generation of fighting men guaranteed the freedom and security of Americans as well as countless others around the globe. My debt of gratitude and the debt of gratitude owed you by your country cannot be measured. Thank you; from the bottom of my heart…Thank you.
Memorials and ceremonies are wonderful. They are a fitting honor for the enormity of the task you faced. However, in the end they are passing mementos that time will erase. Your lasting legacy is one not memorialized in statues or holidays; it is a legacy that is memorialized and lived everyday by Americans that go about their lives in freedom, peace, and security. That is legacy that time cannot erase and ultimately it is the most fitting memorial of your dedication to duty and your personal sacrifice.
I am thankful that I have you for a roll model; both as a roll model for firmness of faith and as a roll model for service to country. I hope that I, and those that I served with, have helped pass on your legacy to following generations. I hope and pray that history will not find us wanting in carrying on the torch of liberty that you and your generation bore so well.
Thank you so much for your service and unwavering commitment. I hope that the monument in Washington, along with this letter, conveys the gratitude of a grateful nation and my own personal gratitude for your service. It is an honor to have you for a grandfather and I treasure all that I have learned from you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Grandpa,
I have the deepest respect for you, both as a Godly man and example to me, and as a man who answered the call of duty in his country’s hour of need. I am grateful beyond words for what you and those you served with achieved. Your generation of fighting men guaranteed the freedom and security of Americans as well as countless others around the globe. My debt of gratitude and the debt of gratitude owed you by your country cannot be measured. Thank you; from the bottom of my heart…Thank you.
Memorials and ceremonies are wonderful. They are a fitting honor for the enormity of the task you faced. However, in the end they are passing mementos that time will erase. Your lasting legacy is one not memorialized in statues or holidays; it is a legacy that is memorialized and lived everyday by Americans that go about their lives in freedom, peace, and security. That is legacy that time cannot erase and ultimately it is the most fitting memorial of your dedication to duty and your personal sacrifice.
I am thankful that I have you for a roll model; both as a roll model for firmness of faith and as a roll model for service to country. I hope that I, and those that I served with, have helped pass on your legacy to following generations. I hope and pray that history will not find us wanting in carrying on the torch of liberty that you and your generation bore so well.
Thank you so much for your service and unwavering commitment. I hope that the monument in Washington, along with this letter, conveys the gratitude of a grateful nation and my own personal gratitude for your service. It is an honor to have you for a grandfather and I treasure all that I have learned from you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
An Assault on the First Amendment
Courtesy of Fox News:
“Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.
"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.
"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.
A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.
But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.
For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.
"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."
"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of Bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."
The couple is planning to dispute the county's order this week.
If San Diego County refuses to allow the pastor and his wife to continue gathering without acquiring a permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.”
If this story is true, and I have no reason to believe that it is not, then we have entered a new era in the assault on Christianity in this country as well as the assault on the First Amendment to the Constitution. For your edification, dear reader, here is the first Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
To my mind, it seems that San Diego County is clearly in violation of the second and fifth clauses of the first Amendmant. I am sure that if this goes to court then the county will be forced to reverse their position, however this won’t be the last time that action such as this is attempted to stop people from peaceably assembling to worship. I hold that it is in no way under the government’s perview, at any level, to dictate what people may or may not do in their own homes so long as those actions do not willfuly or negligently endanger others. Now San Diego County may argue that they are not trying to prohibit peaceful gatherings of Christians in private homes, they are simply attempting to insure public safety by requiring the proper permits; however requiring permits for small peaceful gatherings in a PRIVATE citizens homes goes well beyond reasonable and is an undue impediement to the excersise of First Amendment rights. If they are going to require permits for Bible studies in homes, then they also should reqire permits for Labor Day barbecues, Super Bowl Parties, and your first grader’s birthday party. Do you see the absurdity? My thoughts and prayers are with that pastor in this fight. This should serve as a warning to us all. It should be a wake up call to the fact that our most precious liberties are under assault and that it is time to make a stand. If we don’t, the free country that we have known will die with a wimper, and the beacon of hope that is America will fade quielty into the night.
Note: Please excuse any misspellings, my spell check died….again.
“Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.
"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.
"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.
A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.
But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.
For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.
"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."
"The implications are great because it’s not only us that’s involved," Mary Jones said. "There are thousands and thousands of Bible studies that are held all across the country. What we’re interested in is setting a precedent here — before it goes any further — and that we have it settled for the future."
The couple is planning to dispute the county's order this week.
If San Diego County refuses to allow the pastor and his wife to continue gathering without acquiring a permit, they will consider a lawsuit in federal court.”
If this story is true, and I have no reason to believe that it is not, then we have entered a new era in the assault on Christianity in this country as well as the assault on the First Amendment to the Constitution. For your edification, dear reader, here is the first Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
To my mind, it seems that San Diego County is clearly in violation of the second and fifth clauses of the first Amendmant. I am sure that if this goes to court then the county will be forced to reverse their position, however this won’t be the last time that action such as this is attempted to stop people from peaceably assembling to worship. I hold that it is in no way under the government’s perview, at any level, to dictate what people may or may not do in their own homes so long as those actions do not willfuly or negligently endanger others. Now San Diego County may argue that they are not trying to prohibit peaceful gatherings of Christians in private homes, they are simply attempting to insure public safety by requiring the proper permits; however requiring permits for small peaceful gatherings in a PRIVATE citizens homes goes well beyond reasonable and is an undue impediement to the excersise of First Amendment rights. If they are going to require permits for Bible studies in homes, then they also should reqire permits for Labor Day barbecues, Super Bowl Parties, and your first grader’s birthday party. Do you see the absurdity? My thoughts and prayers are with that pastor in this fight. This should serve as a warning to us all. It should be a wake up call to the fact that our most precious liberties are under assault and that it is time to make a stand. If we don’t, the free country that we have known will die with a wimper, and the beacon of hope that is America will fade quielty into the night.
Note: Please excuse any misspellings, my spell check died….again.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Russian Perspective
This link goes to an article in the Russian periodical Pravda. It is interesting and enlightening to read the views of observers who have lived under and then thrown off the tyranny of socialism. Please take the time to read the article and head the warning that it is. We MUST stop this march towards Marxism before the stooges in Washington lead beyond the point of no return.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/
I will not live on my knees. I will not sacrifice liberty for government promised security. I will not meekly accept the chains of bureaucratic control for ANYTHING! I will defend my natural rights and inherent human dignity as well as the rights and dignity of others with every resource available to me. This is my pledge and my purpose. I urge you to take it for your own.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/
I will not live on my knees. I will not sacrifice liberty for government promised security. I will not meekly accept the chains of bureaucratic control for ANYTHING! I will defend my natural rights and inherent human dignity as well as the rights and dignity of others with every resource available to me. This is my pledge and my purpose. I urge you to take it for your own.
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