Within
the last couple of years "hate crimes" have become a big issue and
most people have heard about it but few really understand it.
A few years ago,
Matthew Shephard, a homosexual was killed by a couples of thugs. The liberal
establishment, including the media, took advantage of that tragic murder and
began a campaign to force the federal government to pass "hate crime"
legislation.
Ted Kennedy in the
U.S. Senate introduced the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999" but
that bill never became law. Recently, Senator Kennedy renamed the bill and it
is now called S. Bill 625, the "Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of
2001." Defeating it in the Senate is probably a lost cause since the Democrats
now control the Senate and nearly every one of them support it and some moderate
Republicans also support it. The bill has 51 co-sponsors in the Senate. Almost
half of the House of Representative is behind it but there is still a chance
to defeat it in the House.
"Calling this
bill 'hate crime' legislation shows how the liberal activists and their media
allies have hijacked the English language. They know nobody defends 'hate.'
But 'hate crimes' laws aren't really aimed at hatred. Instead, they are aims
at beliefs and opinions liberals don't like, and ultimately turn them into crimes"
says, Robert Knight, spokes person for Concern Women of American (CWA). He continues,
"stopping 'hate crimes' isn't their goal. Anti-family liberals really want
to make it illegal to oppose their twisted vision for our nation's future!"
The Kennedy "Hate
Crime" bill, if it becomes law, would include sexual orientation into the
list of specially protected groups. Under this "Hate Crime" law, violence
toward a homosexual would be more serious than if the victim had not been homosexual.
"Hate crimes" bills like S. 625 bring nearer the day when our constitutionally
protected freedoms of speech and religion will be no more. This bill or any
kind of "hate crime" legislation like it would promote division and
hatred by declaring that some people are more deserving of protection than others.
This would most likely lead to criminalizing opinions, beliefs, and thoughts,
instead of actions.
This kind of dangerous
law has already become real in Canada. One can no longer speak his convictions
concerning the practice of homosexuality without penalty. It is now illegal
in Canada for Television or Radio Broadcasters to use any Bible passage that
condemns homosexuality. The same is true for Canadian Newspapers. Recently,
a Canadian Newspaper publisher was jailed for printing an ad, which used a Bible
verse condemning homosexuality. The person who bought the ad and the publisher
were both considered criminals and both were put in jail.
Now I'm not talking
about the 1940's Nazi Germany. Neither, am I talking about the present day Communist
China or Russia, or any of the totalitarian governments of third world countries.
I am talking about our closest ally and trading partner just to the north of
us with a very similar system of government and at one time protector of free
speech and freedom of expression.
Oh, you say, this
would never happen here! The fact of the matter is that it is already happening
here. Government officials in Staten Island called the word of God "hate-speech"
and forced a billboard owner to cover up a Bible quote about homosexuality.
One cannot buy ads or use quotes from Bible verses, which condemn the practice
of homosexuality on billboards, anywhere in New York City.
The Christian censorship
in New York is what the liberal Democrats want for the rest of us. And the national
"hate crime" laws that are now enforced in Canada are the same kind
Ted Kennedy and his co-horts are trying so hard to get through the legislative
process here in the U.S. Use the Capital Switchboard no. 202-224-3121 and call
your Senators and Congressmen and ask them to oppose S. 625, the Kennedy-"Local
Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2001" or any other type of so called
"hate crime" bill. Then write or call the White House 202-456-1111
and ask that President George Bush veto any such bill if it passes Congress.
Remember what Edmund Burke said, "all it takes for evil to triumph is for
good men to do nothing."