A Liberal Religious Perspective on Hate Crime Legislation
November 2, 2009
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October 31, 2009
We don't like to think about hate crimes. They are a disappointing reminder of parts of our history we would just as soon forget.
While the story about the white judge who denied an interracial couple a marriage license is slightly distressing, most of the comments about the New Orleans justice of the peace, have been along the lines of "Hey, our country has moved past that." The justice said he wouldn't marry the couple because he didn't think interracial kids were a good idea.
Governor Bobby Jindal said "Disciplinary action should be taken immediately - incCrime scene at synagogue shootingluding the revoking of his license." The couple did get married, but now have a sad story to tell.
Much more inconvenient and terrifying is getting shot for your religion.
Two men were shot in the legs on their way in to the Adat Yeshurun Sephardic Congregation in Los Angeles the other day, and the gun man neither spoke to the victims nor took anything from them. Police are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime.
Imagine you're in church or a synagogue, about to begin services, and two fellow congregants bleeding at their legs make their way into the sanctuary. I'm sure people must have been terrified.
In a way, a hate crime is a crime of terror. That's why so many people on the religious left, including me, are encouraged by President Obama's recent signing of the Hate Crime Prevention Act two days ago.
Most Americans won't put up with hate crimes based on religion or race, and we shouldn't. But we should include in the category of hate crimes people selected to be terrorized because of their disability or sexual orientation. It's a step forward in "affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person" (A Unitarian Universalist Principle).
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