The Flames of Hate in Alabama

The Boston Globe ^ | 2/15/06 | Jeff Jacoby

[liberallarry]

That's ok, I take it as a compliment.

You're quite correct. This is a conservative site and others are here by invitation. None-the-less, I've always been treated fairly.

I think you err in insisting too much on civility. Political dispute, by nature, provokes anger, fear, outrage, etc. The best you can hope for is rationality, honesty, intensity, and a willingness to see things through.

[commish]

But real progress will come only when we abandon the whole misguided notion of ''hate crimes," which deems certain crimes more deserving of outrage and punishment not because of what the criminal did, but because of the group to which the victim belonged. The burning of a church is a hateful act regardless of the congregants' skin color. That some people bend over backward not to say so is a disgrace.

Jacoby really nails it in this article. Thanks for posting this.

I have one small nitpik though. The 10th fire was already solved and was not connected to the other 9 -- it was a copycat fire set by a mentally disturbed young man with a firefighter brother. He said he wanted to watch his brother put out the fire.

[Mr. Silverback]

I think you err in insisting too much on civility. Political dispute, by nature, provokes anger, fear, outrage, etc. The best you can hope for is rationality, honesty, intensity, and a willingness to see things through.

Good point. Let me clarify: I meant that he was civil enough. :-D For example, if I were to compare this guy's posts to Murrymom's, it would be like night and day.

Thanks for your time.

[YOUGOTIT]

Mi scusi! Non legge la Costituzione che dice noi siamo del tutto uguali sotto la legge? Emendamenti XIV e XV.

[Potowmack]

Sorry, I don't speak Italian(?)