Anorak News | Omar Mateen: the bullshit of hate crime

Much debate over why Omar Mateen murdered scores of people in a gay night club in Florida. Did he do it because he hated gays, loved Islamic State, was mentally ill, was able to buy guns, or because we there was nothing on the telly? The New York Times produces an editorial:

While the precise motivation for the rampage remains unclear, it is evident that Mr. Mateen was driven by hatred toward gays and lesbians.

He targeted gays deliberately. That much is certain.

Hate crimes don’t happen in a vacuum.

Hate crime? What’s a hate crime? This was mass murder.

They occur where bigotry is allowed to fester, where minorities are vilified and where people are scapegoated for political gain.

Hate crimes happen when expressing your opinion for something is deemed to be hateful by lawmakers. What is hateful is not fixed? Do you hate gays (wrong) or do you hate people tho hate gay marriage (fine)?

Tragically, this is the state of American politics, driven too often by Republican politicians who see prejudice as something to exploit, not extinguish.

You extinguish hate by making hate hateful and banning it, so they say. Mateen’s was a heinous crime. The New York Times conflates the slaughter of innocents with what people say. It puts violent acts on a par with violent words. Injury to feelings is placed on a on par with physical injury.

Incitement to violence, we can understand. But incitement to hatred can look a lot like outlawing expressions of heartfelt belief.

Anorak

Omar Mateen: the bullshit of hate crime

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