Quote Originally Posted by JamieG View Post
In essence, a hate crime is a kind of terroristic threat; they often occur because the perpetrators want that "kind" to know they aren't wanted around here.
Exactly! Not only do you have the original physical crime of assault, but you also have the threat to all others of that "group" that this will happen to you. It is an attempt to deprive some people of their constitutional rights of free assembly, association and speech!

Quote Originally Posted by Persephone View Post
So let's see if I understand . . . Attacking someone because of their skin color or their gender identity is definitely wrong, but singling them out and keeping them socially distinct and different so that you can offer them unique and special "protection" is O.K.? Both are forms of discrimination.
This is the same line of reasoning that those that hate other groups use. The whole "special rights" argument is a sham. What these laws at least attempt to do is to prevent or offset the real discrimination that already is taking place. If you follow this to its conclusion than we should repeal the civil rights laws of the 60's? I don't think so! Anyone who has lived in this country during the 60's and 70's knows that for minorities and women huge changes have taken place. That would not have been possible without those protections.

"Preference," be it in hiring, or in special treatment under the law ("hate crime")........... is just plain wrong.
Persephone.
Only bad policies or bad managers use the anti-discrimination laws to hire and promote on the basis of race or sex. The laws were meant to prevent ALL discrimination. Used properly they PREVENT a woman from NOT being hired because she is a woman. Quotas are no ones friend.