Posted on 07/17/2007 3:50:58 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback
Never judge a book by its cover, so goes the old expression. But what’s true about books is even more true about legislation. For example, a bill pending before the Senate is titled the “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.” Since few people want to promote “hate crimes,” preventing hate crimes sounds like a laudable goal. Right?
Not if you read what’s between the covers: The title of this bill ought to be the “Thought Control Act of 2007.”
I told “BreakPoint” listeners and readers about the bill when it was pending before the House. Unfortunately, that bill passed the House and now faces Senate ratification—this time, in typical Washington fashion, as an amendment tacked on to the National Defense Authorization Act.
The law is just as dangerous now as it was then.
This bill would give the federal government jurisdiction over local criminal offenses believed to be “motivated by prejudice.” Not just any prejudice, mind you, but prejudice based on “race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim.”
Watch those phrases sexual orientation and gender identity, because they tell you which groups are pushing hardest for this bill. The committee rejected amendments that would include other groups, like veterans, the homeless, and senior citizens.
That still leaves us with “why?” Do crimes against homosexuals go unpunished? Are people free to attack gays with impunity?
Of course not. There are already laws against assaults on people and property. Moreover, according to the FBI, crimes against homosexuals in the United States have dropped dramatically. In 2005, out of 863,000 cases of aggravated assault, just 177 cases were crimes of bias against homosexuals—far less than 1 percent.
For the bill’s supporters, it is not enough to walk down the street in complete safety. Nor is it enough to be able to work and live wherever you please. Like the state song of Kansas, they want a place where “seldom is heard a discouraging word” about homosexuality.
See, the bill is not about crime prevention or even civil rights. It’s about outlawing peaceful speech—speech that asserts that homosexual behavior is morally wrong. That’s why the House judiciary committee rejected an amendment stipulating that nothing in this law would limit the religious freedom of any person or group under the Constitution.
We’ve seen where laws like this can lead: Hate crimes have been defined to include verbal attacks—and even peaceful speech. The Thought Police have already prosecuted Christians under hate-crime laws in England, Sweden, and Canada. And in Pennsylvania, 11 Christians were prosecuted under the state’s hate crime law for preaching on a street corner against homosexuality.
Please go to the phones. Call your senators or e-mail them. Urge them to vote against the Kennedy Hate Crimes amendment. You can visit the links below to find more information about this radical law.
If we do nothing, the book under the seemingly innocuous cover will turn out to be "1984"—and it will no longer be fiction, but the law of the land.
There are links to further information at the source document.
If anyone wants on or off my Chuck Colson/BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!
If anyone wants on or off my Chuck Colson/BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
my understanding is that the net effect of laws like this are increased attacks on the people protected, and more resenment, I wonder how far things will go before the left suffers enough nosebleeds and broken ribs to back off into the shadows were it belongs.
And no matter what, don’t tell the world that you think someone belongs to a false Christian Church.
It is hate and bigotry! We have no right to make a judgement concerning “faith,” whether it be Muslim, Hindu, Scientology or Jehova Witness. Do NOT EVER say anything against them.
That would just show you are full of hatred, consumed with sin and vile. Vile, I tell you!
I remember this one. Those people were ruthlessly persecuted and were facing dozens of years until they appointed an independant, impartial judge who immediately threw out all the charges as totally baseless.
Does this mean that the black muslims in Times Square could no longer shout in the faces of white people with a megaphone and brand them “white devils”?
No, no, that’s still acceptable.
Thanks for posting this. EVERYONE SHOULD CALL THEIR SENS TO VOTE AGAINST THIS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT@!
The worst part about this law is that it “attempts” to controll what YOU and I think, and BELIEVE..
I wish they would quit sneaking these bills into other bills. I think I have had enough of our Congress. It’s way past time to get new blood.
It’s also too bad we can punish those that deserve it.
I just knew he had to have a hand in this. I swear, the man is a living, breathing, walking (stumbling?) curse on this Republic.
It is hate and bigotry! We have no right to make a judgement concerning “faith,” whether it be Muslim, Hindu, Scientology or Jehova Witness. Do NOT EVER say anything against them.
That would just show you are full of hatred, consumed with sin and vile. Vile, I tell you!
Pinging you, HKMk23--you might find these comments interesting. See if you can answer in 10 words or less. ;)
Apples. Oranges.
Less than 10 words.
We need term limits, but that might require an Act of God!
Complete media BLACKOUT!
Either the mass media is incredibly incompetent at finding the most important story of our decade (if not century) or the homosexual lobby has pulled every string they have in order to keep this quite. I don't know which one, but it seems that if we were to make a big squawk about this silence we will both break the silence and embarrass the mass media for not covering it. I have posted about this at our blog at airmaria.com and on Free Republic. Send everyone you know this URL. I also include a link to were you can automatically email all the newspaper and TV editors in your area in order to send them kind reminders of their duty to report this. By doing this perhaps we can get them to act simply because they will perceive that their credibility is slipping.
Ave Maria!
Friar Roderic
I feel so useless when we are told to call our senators. My senators in Washington State don't have the time of day for conservatives.
My advice “Call them Out”: tell them you don’t appreciate them taking advantage of our Military Personel (putting their lives on the line for you and me? Do they even appreciate them?) to advance radical sexual politics. Do what is necessary, say the truth and CALL THEM OUT on their hypocracy and LIES!
Anything but swimming, right? I agree with your sentiment.
They’re both fruit.
You are absolutely right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.