When advocacy becomes a hate crime ...

[DallasApple]

And yet mormons seem to be the most 'pure' christians of all.(generalizing)

I would say the Amish are..

Love

Dallas

 

[No*s]

So if the Klan burns a cross in front of an African American family's house but no property was damaged, that's not a hate crime?

I think that people have the right to feel safe. I mean, yes, there will always be accidents and criminals, etc. but people have a right to live without fear for their safety based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical and mental ability... And I interpret this act as one of extreme intimidation.

Free speech cuts both ways. If I say something that you don't like and you retaliate by threats and intimidation, then is my speech really free?

Even more to the point, if I say or do something that you find hurtful, and instead of confronting me about it, you take it out on someone who looks like me or is the same religion as me, is that not evidence of bigotry? (rhetorical "you", not you personally)

I promised Jay I wouldn't derail the thread. I started another thread here dealing with the subject.

 

[lilithu]

Protests RARELY if ever make people respect each other.

That's because they're rarely done the right way. Even a protest must be grounded in love and in favor of what one is trying to achieve, whereas most protests are grounded in hate and against the people who are seen as obstacles.

The Civil Rights movement succeeded because King was a leader that was capable of keeping protesters grounded in love. By doing so, his side was perceived by the general public as the more peaceful, tolerant side. That is the heart of civil disobedience. Protests CAN work; they can be very powerful. They cannot, however, be the only thing we do.

 

[Elessar]

That's because they're rarely done the right way. Even a protest must be grounded in love and in favor of what one is trying to achieve, whereas most protests are grounded in hate and against the people who are seen as obstacles.

The Civil Rights movement succeeded because King was a leader that was capable of keeping protesters grounded in love. By doing so, his side was perceived by the general public as the more peaceful, tolerant side. That is the heart of civil disobedience. Protests CAN work; they can be very powerful. They cannot, however, be the only thing we do.

Frubals.