Please let us know the number of dead people which would warrant legislation for hate crimes.

That way we won’t need to bother you again until we reach that point!

More West Wing quotes here; this is a conversation between CJ and Leo concerning hate crimes legislation after a gay teen was brutally murdered. As a mother and, well, as a human being, I COMPLETELY understand CJ’s position, but I also see the practicality of Leo’s position, as well….

LEO
Whatever. Listen, dial down the rhetoric on hate crimes would you?
C.J.
You told me to float a test balloon.

LEO
Float it. Don’t shove it down anyone’s throat. I don’t know which way we’re gonna come down on this one.

C.J.
They made him say “Hail Mary’s” as they beat him to death. This was a crime of entertainment.

LEO
C.J….

C.J.
Beyond the crime itself is a manifestation of racism, or sexism, or anti Semitism or homophobia that are only a tip of the iceberg of the pathology troubling this country.

LEO
I’m aware of all that. I’m just not sure it’s right to legislate against how someone thinks. A lot of people aren’t sure, a lot of ‘em work here and I’m telling ya’ to dial it down.

C.J.
Okay.

LEO
Thank you.

Later in the same episode, CJ asks Danny - a reporter who’s a lot smarter and more considered than he lets on - about the question. I like Danny’s answer:

C.J.
Don’t you think imposing additional penalties for hate-motivated crimes is a powerful statement by society against intolerance?

DANNY
No. A crime is a crime. One murder isn’t any better or worse than another.

C.J.
Boy, was that the wrong answer.

DANNY
Punishing people for their beliefs is the beginning of the end. What’s more, you agree with me.

C.J.
I don’t agree with you.

DANNY
Ok.

In a recent discussion with him, I asked why he can’t simply let them be. He does not ned to associate with people he does not like. Tolerance does not need to equate with acceptance, but there is no need to put up legal (or other) barriers.

He told me that he was brought up to believe that if “others” are doing something morally wrong (not necessarily illegal, but morally wrong), they must be stopped from doing so. It was ingrained in him from an early age, and for him it’s very clear cut.

Like I said, he is not violent, but anyone with a propensity towards violence who shares that view could easily feel justified.

It’s a long row to hoe.

BTW, like Rich, I do not agree with extra penalties because any given crime was motivated by hate.

I’ve been a member of the HRC and the ACLU for years. I might write about this myself a little, because I sometimes have real issues with “Hate Crime” laws. I understand them, I understand that kind of fight, but I’m sometimes uncertain about the idea of creating a legal segregation of groups of people instead of enforcing enforcement. In otherwords, protect everyone equally.

Nice post.

LOVE!!!