An IN story no one knows about, but that everyone SHOULD

[akujunkan]

A link to this was posted by a member of my flist, and I am passing it on. It should go without saying that I am absolutely speechless in the face of all of this, especially considering it occurred rather near where I used to live. Like the OP, I am horrified and perplexed as to why this has not received even adequate local coverage.

That said, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about "hate crime" legislation. No one should be subjected to violence because of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other similar category. In fact, no one should be subjected to violence, period, and I fail to see how what happened to Hall is any more horrific because he was gay/his assailants thought he was gay. Substitute any of the other aforementioned categories into that last bit, and I'd still feel the same way. In fact, substitute "because (they thought) he was a straight, white, middle class Christian male" and I still don't see how the particulars of Hall's death could become any more or less horrifying.

I can understand the necessity of the concept "hate crime"--there have been all too many periods in history when someone's inclusion or supposed inclusion in [insert group of choice here] has been deemed reason enough to both justify or condone acts of violence upon that person, and it's a shameful fact that people still need to be reminded that these categories are no justification whatsoever, but how does making it a specific crime benefit anyone? A murder is a murder is wrong, period. The idea of creating making "hate crime" a legal offence does nothing, as far as I can see.

That will be all.

Comments

[dark-waterlily.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, we cannot jugde only saying "because s/he committed a murder," lawyers are good in exploiting the weaknees/darkness in our hearts; being angry, stressed or psychologically unstable are good excuses to escape from crime punishment... it is a shame, but we must, sadly, admit this world is unfair and just because some people find what you are/do 'not according to their righteous beliefs' you must bear their grudge... hate crime legislation it is not the solution.
I am back only to read and verify once again that this world doesn't want to admit its rotten nature and doesn't want to do anything about it... until when? I don't want to know.
How are you? are you Ok?

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

My feelings exactly. In a perfect world, we wouldn't have crime, but to legally define crimes committed against certain unfavored classes of people "worse" than those committed against everyone else...will only generate more animosity to said classes, IMO.

I'm doing just dandy actually. I spent the afternoon with bran420_7 and her son today, which is always loads of fun. How are you yourself?

[suriru.livejournal.com]

thanks for the link.

it's a shameful fact that people still need to be reminded that these categories are no justification whatsoever, but how does making it a specific crime benefit anyone? A murder is a murder is wrong, period.

that was exactly what i thought as i read it. no one deserves to be murdered so bruttaly. no one.