It's A New Day!
It's a new day! The U.S. House of Representatives just passed Federal Hate Crimes legislation titled Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 by a vote of 237 to 180.
It was enough to urge me out of a rock I've been living under, more or less. Keeping up with this blog just wasn't raising my spirits the way it used to, so I ignored it. But, I suspect that's why the hateful bigots ceaselessly pepper our discussions with their misguided views and tactics. They are hoping good people will start to lose faith. However, I earnestly believe the words of Martin Luther King: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
In due time, I'll write more about my hiatus and the things I achieved in the time I was absent. But, this blog isn't about me. It's about adding my voice to a growing tide of fair-minded people who think all American deserve to be treated with inherent dignity and respect -- a tide I believe will eventually drown out the voices of hateful people who will stop at nothing to manipulatively and deceitfully use religion to divide us. These people truly have no shame.
These are people such as:
Focus on the Family's James Dobson, who calls a federal hate crimes bill "insidious legislation...that could silence and punish Christians for their moral beliefs." If only it could silence false "Christians" -- wolves in sheep's clothing -- such as him.
The Family Research Council, which claims federal hate crimes legislation would create a "caste system" because police would receive federal money for investigating the hate crime if the person was gay. Patently false. Apparently no one in these Stepford families has been the target of harassment or violence because he or she is different. Goody for them.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition, who claims a federal hate crimes bill would harm "religious freedom" and that Christians could be prosecuted for "preaching against homosexuality." Not true -- unless the preaching turns violent. It's frightening this blowhard makes such an illogical leap. Wonder what type of Nazi-esque witch burnings and cult sessions she has up her sleeve.
This legislation would grant local law enforcement officials federal funds for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes motivated out of prejudice and hate that result in serious bodily injury and death. This bill is about violent actions! Not about what someone believes.
And, yet, these fanatical folks don't see the ultimately irony. They cry out because they fear they will be punished and condemned for what they want to believe and speak out about. But, extending that same courtesy to anyone else? No way!!! That type of open-mindedness is to be squelched and thwarted!
They don't get that extending protections to everyone -- the act of including folks who are marginalized, ostracized and victimized -- might actually serve them. They are content to die by their own sword.
I know these people can be ignorant and thick. But, let's not fool ourselves. They know they are being disingenuous. They know they are creating bogey men and false situations to try to coerce folks to buy what they're selling. It's disheartening they believe their followers can be so easily duped. It's more disheartening that some folks seem to listen to them. But I believe this number is growing smaller every day. Every day their hateful and dishonest rhetoric is turning people away.
It's quite desperate when folks can't believe in the truth of their message -- and have to resort to blatant lies and empty rhetoric.
Yes, it's a new day. No longer does this fringe cult of people have the ear of legislators -- or the people at large. No longer do they have carte blanche to turn this country into such a hateful place where only a certain set of views and lifestyle is acceptable. They had a good run, but -- in all honesty -- they have proven tedious. Americans see through their doublespeak and have begun to recognize their ultimate goals -- power, control, money -- are far from religious or Christian. What an opportunity they wasted -- to spread the real word of God. But, it pervades. And every day it sounds less and less like what these folks are preaching.
Onward to the Senate!
It was enough to urge me out of a rock I've been living under, more or less. Keeping up with this blog just wasn't raising my spirits the way it used to, so I ignored it. But, I suspect that's why the hateful bigots ceaselessly pepper our discussions with their misguided views and tactics. They are hoping good people will start to lose faith. However, I earnestly believe the words of Martin Luther King: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
In due time, I'll write more about my hiatus and the things I achieved in the time I was absent. But, this blog isn't about me. It's about adding my voice to a growing tide of fair-minded people who think all American deserve to be treated with inherent dignity and respect -- a tide I believe will eventually drown out the voices of hateful people who will stop at nothing to manipulatively and deceitfully use religion to divide us. These people truly have no shame.
These are people such as:
Focus on the Family's James Dobson, who calls a federal hate crimes bill "insidious legislation...that could silence and punish Christians for their moral beliefs." If only it could silence false "Christians" -- wolves in sheep's clothing -- such as him.
The Family Research Council, which claims federal hate crimes legislation would create a "caste system" because police would receive federal money for investigating the hate crime if the person was gay. Patently false. Apparently no one in these Stepford families has been the target of harassment or violence because he or she is different. Goody for them.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition, who claims a federal hate crimes bill would harm "religious freedom" and that Christians could be prosecuted for "preaching against homosexuality." Not true -- unless the preaching turns violent. It's frightening this blowhard makes such an illogical leap. Wonder what type of Nazi-esque witch burnings and cult sessions she has up her sleeve.
This legislation would grant local law enforcement officials federal funds for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes motivated out of prejudice and hate that result in serious bodily injury and death. This bill is about violent actions! Not about what someone believes.
And, yet, these fanatical folks don't see the ultimately irony. They cry out because they fear they will be punished and condemned for what they want to believe and speak out about. But, extending that same courtesy to anyone else? No way!!! That type of open-mindedness is to be squelched and thwarted!
They don't get that extending protections to everyone -- the act of including folks who are marginalized, ostracized and victimized -- might actually serve them. They are content to die by their own sword.
I know these people can be ignorant and thick. But, let's not fool ourselves. They know they are being disingenuous. They know they are creating bogey men and false situations to try to coerce folks to buy what they're selling. It's disheartening they believe their followers can be so easily duped. It's more disheartening that some folks seem to listen to them. But I believe this number is growing smaller every day. Every day their hateful and dishonest rhetoric is turning people away.
It's quite desperate when folks can't believe in the truth of their message -- and have to resort to blatant lies and empty rhetoric.
Yes, it's a new day. No longer does this fringe cult of people have the ear of legislators -- or the people at large. No longer do they have carte blanche to turn this country into such a hateful place where only a certain set of views and lifestyle is acceptable. They had a good run, but -- in all honesty -- they have proven tedious. Americans see through their doublespeak and have begun to recognize their ultimate goals -- power, control, money -- are far from religious or Christian. What an opportunity they wasted -- to spread the real word of God. But, it pervades. And every day it sounds less and less like what these folks are preaching.
Onward to the Senate!
Labels: hate crime prevention act, hate crimes
posted by Jim at 1:35 PM
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