Why Hate Crimes = Terrorism

“Hate crimes (also known as bias crimes) are violent crimes, hate speech or vandalism, motivated by feelings of enmity against an identifiable social group. Crimes motivated by hatred toward particular groups not only harm individual victims but send a powerful message of intolerance and discrimination to all members of the group to which the victim belongs. Hate crimes can and do intimidate and disrupt entire communities. ”

Though the definition of Hate Crime and Terrorism can vary from state to state, country to country, and person to person, most definitions supplied mirror the definitions listed above.

My assertion that Hate Crimes and Terrorism are one in the same is based on the above definitions:

a. Both definitions require actions or speech designed to “intimidate societies” (or social groups); A society being nothing more than social group. We won’t split hairs about this one.

b. Acts of Terrorism are done to make political or social statements. Examples: September 11th, the Oklahoma City bombing, abortion clinic bombings, etc. These acts are designed to coerse or manipulate existing policy or customs: A “scare” tactic.

c. Hate Crimes, too, are done to make a statement, prove a point, or discourage certain types of behavior.
Examples:

1. The Klu Klux Klan hanging African Americans shortly after slavery ended to discourage them from exercising their newly gained voting rights.
2. Male rapists who target “strong” women or feminists in an effort to “teach them a lesson” and encourage them to “stay in their place.”
3. A group of straight male jocks going out “fag bashing” in an effort to “make an example” of 2 men they perceive as gay or to let the neighborhood know that homosexuals aren’t welcome.
4. Nazi-era swastikas painted on walls are a visual warning to Jews to “stay away” or “face consequences.”
5. Shouts of “faggot” to homosexuals are designed to marginalize and ridicule; Shouts of “faggot” to straight men are designed to encourage the man to be “more macho” or discourage him from voicing displeasure or discomfort or risk being confused for a homosexual.
Hate crimes are intended to control the physical mobility, social mobility, and/or public behavior of an entire social group, not just the representative victim in the attack, by sending “warnings” and making “examples” of people. Hate crimes are intimidating tactics used to coerce or influence a whole social group or society.

For this reason, Hate Crimes are Acts of Terrorism and should be treated as such under the laws that govern these United States, making the perpetrators eligible for lengthy jail sentences and capital punishment. Attack a black man because of his race = life in prison, no parole; Murder a gay man simply because he’s gay = “Old Sparky”; Spray paint a swastika on a private home or burn a cross on a lawn = “25 years to life”; “Hate” or “Sexism” based rapes = Execution

People have every right not to LIKE a particular group of people, but no one has a right to use tactics of fear to limit that group’s access to certain jobs, housing/neighborhoods, or political and economic rights and services or to inflict injury or cause death.
Second, the laws in the United States should allow the use of lethal force by any member of the traditionally “targeted” groups (racial minorities, non-Christians, women, gays/lesbians, disabled individuals) in the event they feel they are about to be or have been the victim of a Hate Crime: An attempted “bashing”, a racial slur, or homophobic statement could be legally “answered” by the vicitim with a self-defensive hail of .38 calibur gun fire. “Protesting” against gay marriage is “Free speech.” Yelling homophobic epithets gays and lesbians or attacking them physically is Terrorism.

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