The 1960s was a very ugly time for America. Whites and blacks were kept seperate by law. Although both groups were claimed to have been treated equally, history shows us blacks were generally looked down upon with disgust by whites. This division of people was created based solely on the fact that blacks were different and different meant they didn't deserve the same rights as the "normal" white people.
Unfortunately today this lack of acceptance does not just have to do with race. Religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation are other factors that come into play as reasons to hate. Since the beginning of time this strong emotion has driven people to do stupid and crazy things. When these crazy things happen to break the law they are defined as a hate crime. Now how, do you ask, is a hate crime any different from a normal crime? The answer is, a criminal must be "motivated by hostility as a member of a group (as one based on color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation)." in order for a normal crime to be transformed into a hate crime.
It has been said that "hate crimes are message crimes." They are trying to communicate a message to a certain group that they are unwelcome. My question is why? I am a very strongly opinionated person and if someone challenges an idea of mine I will fight to show my beliefs, but I still find a way to listen and accept what others have to say no matter how much I disagree with the words leaving their mouths. How someone could disagree with such passion to harm other people in order to prove a point is beyond me.
I have a very hard time coming to grips with this concept. If not all, I would guess a large amount of crimes committed are driven by hate. Unless the criminal admits to acting out to specifically target a certain "type" of person I believe most hate crimes would be hard to prove. America has come a long way since the 60s but still has a ways to go. It is my hope that someday everyone will take the examples that others have left before us and learn from them.
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