“We’re classifying it as a hate crime” ( Decapitated statue of Blessed Virgin )

California Catholic Daily ^ | April 16, 2009 | staff

[Dan Middleton]

"Decapitation of a religious figure is not 'thought' It is a blasphemous act!"

Motivated by a certain type of thought, however ugly and wrong-headed. If vandalism of a religious icon is punished any more severely than vandalism of any other type, then the government is passing judgment on the motivations behind crimes, and that means the government is policing thought and opinions.

[Dan Middleton]

Do you have any response to the substantive arguments in catpuppy’s post?

[catpuppy]

you don't know me from Adam

Struck a nerve, huh? Look fellow "genius". I am older than 60, did not have 12 years of formal religious education (you're not a classmate of AlGore, are you?) but I do know you from Adam. You should look it up. He's in the Bible. You're not.

Thank you for your service. Now take the time away from your religious studies and study the impact of "hate crime" legislation. Perhaps by doing so you will come to understand that the freedom you and I fought for will not last long when "hate" rather than crime becomes the focus of the law.

PS--as one who spent some time becoming acquainted with Route Pack 6A, I too have some familiarity with flak and targets. So let's both "stow" the religious zealotry and the medals and the BS and try to understand the point. Mine is that freedom and justice are almost always better served by applying common sense to the existing law rather than by concocting new crimes where the presence and intensity of someone's "hate" requires more diligent prosecution and harsher punishment than might otherwise be considered.

What is yours?

[Chode]

off with their heads...