Re: The real problem with hate crime legislation

[Dale Goble <gobled@uidaho.edu>]

Ah, but, Farmpro (whoever you may be) the men mentioned create the moral
climate in which violence is condoned.  The attack on gays goes beyond
making homosexual conduct illegal; such conduct is illegal in most if not
all states.  Instead, the Lotts and the Robertsons portray gays as a
threat to America and good Christian [sic] families.  It is this step that
creates the hatred that makes violence nearly inevitable -- and it it this
step that deserves condemnation.

Dale Goble
Moscow


On Mon, 26 Oct 1998, Farmpro wrote:

> That is not true.  Those men do not hate homosexuals, nor do they condone
> physical violence against such.  They simply believe there is not only room
> for moral parameters in a successful, healthy society, but it is mandatory
> that all healthy societies identify practices that are illegal, or at least
> frowned upon, to prevent their propagation.  Homosexuality is unhealthy,
> not only physically and familially, but emotionally.  These men believe
> there is help and healing for dysfunctional practices, whether it is
> alcoholism, adultery, homosexuality, etc.  But for certain, the two men you
> mention do not condone violence against homosexuals.
> 
> ----------
> > From: Dale Goble <gobled@uidaho.edu>
> > To: vision2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
> > Subject: The real problem with hate crime legislation
> > Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 8:55 PM
> > 
> > 
> > is that it seldom reaches the purveyors of the hate.  Hate crimes
> > legislation cannot punish Richard Butler and his Aryan Nations for the
> > crimes of The Order even though he created the moral climate within which
> > its crime were possible.
> > 
> > Similarly, the Southern segregationists of the 1950s and 1960s such as
> > Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, and , created the moral climate within
> > which arson and murder were seen as legitimate acts to protect the
> morally
> > upright against the outsiders.
> > 
> > The two young men in Laramie are also pawns who responded to a climate in
> > which gays are presented as attacking the family and thus as outside the
> > protection of God.  The Trent Lotts and the Pat Robertsons may now
> > self-righteously wring their hands, but they are the people that
> effective
> > hate crimes legislation would jail for they are the purveyors of the hate
> > that produces the crimes.
> > 
> > 
> > Dale Goble
> > Moscow
> > 
> > 
>