The “Matthew Shepard & James Byrde, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed today by President Obama.
This is a great Bill, a long time coming.
Localities can succumb too easily to the prejudices of their populations, & making these FEDERAL crimes pulls that potential of injustice out of the equation..
But, if for no other reason, it FINALLY recognizes that crimes committed against other human beings simply because of WHAT they represent to the willfully ignorant amongst us are MUCH more cancerous than crimes committed for gain or revenge. It now part of our National paradigm.. our “official soul”.
That said, we NOW need to concentrate on PREVENTATIVE measures so that enforcement of this law is deemed unnecessary.
EDUCATION… programs in PUBLIC SCHOOLS to teach our children that the DIFFERENCES in our people that is our STRENGTH… people of all faiths & ethnicities, genders, races & colors, of all political persuasions….& that gays & lesbians are our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters.
EXPOSURE… of the demagogues metastasizing throughout our media, preaching their hatred… bleating their bigotry & ignorance, inciting, in many cases, the very sociopaths that committed the crimes that this Bill was designed to prevent.
We ALL know who they are.. & it is our DUTY as decent people in an enlightened society to CONFRONT them at every opportunity… to show them & those that they claim to represent that we will NEVER tolerate their INTOLERANCE again.
No more SILENCE!
Great post Blue. Today was a great first step, and I know that it’s the first of many. The time for hate and intolerance is past, and to let the 20% know it! They will never get ‘their’ country back! It was over for them on Nov, 4 2008.
I hope I am welcome here. There was an invite on Huffpo. I gotta figure out how to get my pic on my posts, oh no here I go LOL. Hoepfully this is free of trolls
Hey, Sue.
Getting the avatar set is found in the FAQ. It takes a little work but I can see the long term advantage to how it’s done.
So far, it’s a troll free zone. We only talk about them.
Thanks, what a relaxing place. Troll free – so nice.
Hey, Sue, welcome!!
Trolls are discussed here in highly critical terms, but AdLib has said that actual trolls are verboten here.
Thanks, it sure is quiet here, in a good way.
Welcome Sue. No trolls here, just lively debate.
Hi Sue……..welcome, I am Obama20082012 on HP. Glad to see you!
Of course you are welcome here, mon cherie!
NO trolls, but I think there is a stinker around here somewhere, LOL
Who’s your daddy?
justplainfedup
Excellent post BSM. Lets see how effective and how diligently this law is administered. Me, I am ever the cynic! 🙂
That’s true for almost all civil rights legislation making it the law of the land is just the start.
Wonderful news and kudos to this President for finally acknowledging what this crime is, a HATE crime based on discrimination.
I hope that there are a few looney heads exploding at the news of this worthy and much awaited bill being signed.
Well done President Obama and all those who pushed tirelessly for this day to happen. Bravo!
What you wrote about affecting the soul is so so true. It does affect the soul of the whole community involved. I’ve seen my wife who happens to be African American brought to tears about the racist things people say about the First Lady because she identifies with her.
It hurts me to hear it too because I empathize. There are days when I am embarrassed to walk around with white skin.
My husband is Mexican American 3rd generation and he gets the treatment from time to time as well
Thanks for sharing that. I look at the whole country differently since being married to my wonderful wife for 18 years. I would not trade one minute of it because it has really opened my eyes.
Well said, BSM!
It infuriates me when I hear someone say that hate crimes legislation is unnecessary, and of course, those making that statement are not in any of the groups who are victimized by hate crimes. They are just hypocrites. Paint a target on the backs of white southern males and they would soon be singing a very different tune.
Speaking for myself only, I have always spoken out. It is not in me not to do so.
The is one of the best pieces of legislation this congress has passed. Anyone who has followed any of these real life atrocities of how the LGBT community is treated in this country simply does not have a soul. Anyone who voted against this should be ashamed.
Was listening to NPR ATC this evening. A report that many cities report zero hate crimes.
Not, we are not bothering to collect the data. That there were no hate crimes.
Indianapolis, one of the 20 largest cities in the US, had no hate crimes. Affirmatively, no hate crimes.
Reporting hate crimes has become an anti-politically correct rallying cry for conservatives. The fact is the reason things are political correct does have a basis in moral behavior most of the time.
Forty years ago “politically correct” had a different name, “common decency”, but then the right got hold of it and did a spin.
Reporting of crimes is often interesting. Look at most universities and inquire about, say, rape. Oh, no, they don’t happen here. They dance around it to avoid loss of enrollment and funding.
Thanks “common decency” is exactly what it should be called. I forgot that phrase.
My wife and I listen to Old Time Radio from the 40’s and 50’s and while obviously the realities back then were much worse I’m convinced the civility of the public service announcements for tolerance set the seeds for the civil rights movement.
Vincent Price who if you know his personal history is a true Renaissance man had an especially heart felt personal civil rights announcement against religious, racial and ethnic intolerance after his radio show “The Saint”.
We could sure learn some civics lessons in this country but when the president does want to set up youth civil service programs the rabid right wing calls them brainwash camps.
Ludicrous.