Race Issues Poll

[Gustaf]

I am strongly opposed to all forms of governmental racism and governmental attempts to stop racism through selective restrictions on free speech, so I voted "None".

Wrong as usual.

I support affirmative action & hate crimes legislation.

Racial profiling is immoral and I don't support any restrictions on speech (including burning stuff).

I win again!

Seriously, what changed your mind, given how passionate you were on the issue back then?

[Nym90]

Hate crimes and hate speech legislation.

While hate crime legislation may seem racist on its face, I feel it is appropriate to punish someone more harshly if they commit a crime against someone simply because of their race/gender/sexual orientation/religion because they would be much more likely to repeat that crime again if the only motivation for it was hatred of the person's race/gender/sexual orientation/religion, since all members of the group in question are potential victims. If someone commits a crime for a more personal motive, they would be less likely to repeat it and fewer people would be potential targets.

Likewise with hate speech, as advocating violence against all members of a certain group should not be protected free speech. Freedom of speech protects words that attempt to persuade, but not those that attempt to incite.

[Ebowed]

Seriously, what changed your mind, given how passionate you were on the issue back then?

I guess I've just had more experience watching actual hatred and racism since I wrote those posts on hate crimes.  People can hold racist beliefs if they want, but when those beliefs turn into violence, the last thing anyone needs to do is respond by trivializing the motive behind it.  Hate crimes certainly occur, and punishing violent hatred more harshly than regular violence is a just cause.

Regardless of the issue of sentencing, it's important to keep track of hate-motivated crimes for statistical and classification purposes, so that the government can apply resources efficiently to communities suffering from serious hateful attitudes.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

None of them. Americans are Americans regardless of skin color.