Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/11/AR2007051102133.html)
by George F. Will
Hate crime laws are indignation gestures. Legislators federalize the criminal law in order to use it as a moral pork barrel to express theatrical empathy. They score points in the sentiment competition by conferring special government concern for more and more particular groups.
Laws hold us responsible for controlling our minds, which should control our conduct. But government increasingly wants to inventory and furnish our minds, removing socially undesirable desires. Law has always had the expressive function of stigmatizing particular kinds of conduct, but hate crime laws treat certain actions as especially wicked because the actors had odious (although not illegal) frames of mind.
The piece appeared in the Sunday Sacramento Bee.
I submitted this 199-word letter to the editor--
QuoteRight, Mr. Will. We don't need any more protection, all the laws we have now are sufficient to deal with any crime. Just one thing, though. I'm transgendered. I didn't ask to be, can't not be, and studies show Jesus's love doesn't make me 'normal'. Transition to one's true gender is the only medical treatment that works 99% or the time. I wish you could spend a day being me, the day an incident having nothing to do with transsexualism turned into 'a hysterical attempt to shove that disgusting lifestyle down our throats' by a co-worker. Or spend a day being Female-to-Male Brandon Teena the day he was forced to drop his pants revealing his body sex, then beaten and raped and, after filing a complaint with the county sheriff, which was ignored, having the hospital 'rape kit' lost. Or better yet, be Brandon the day his assailants murdered him, his girlfriend and an acquaintance for talking. Or be Male-to-Female Tyra Hunter the day she got into an auto accident, and was denied lifesaving medical care when the paramedics and ER staff found out her body sex. The first amendment doesn't extend to shouting 'FIRE!" in a crowded theater.
I challenge others to write thoughtful letters to the editor of their papers wherever appropriate.
Karen
I've written letters to the editor...they don't get printed. I've called and written my congress critter...I basically get back a form answer saying most of my fellow voters are homophobic, fundamentalist rednecks and he would be seen as making a pact with the devil if he went against their narrow minded bigotry. Let's face it, if you are different than the so-called "social norms", the only people that give a damn if you live or die are the ones that have to pay for your funeral.
Beverly
We still need to keep writing letters. Remember kids, it's part of our "agenda"!
Yes, they will ignore us, but not forever. Sooner or later a switch will click and we'll win a few votes here and there. We are making progress. Look how bad it was 20 years ago and look where we are today. There is vast improvement.
Cindi
I agree with Cindi. Though our victories may be small and few, they are victories nonetheless.
Letters will sure help, and never stop them coming... heck, I've written more than a couple myself. And I make it a point to do so once a month at least... Eventually, someone will listen, or they won't... but they can't stop me from trying :D
I do believe that the more advances into making the general public aware that we are and always have been around will only cause more and more "closeted" people to step forward... but it's irrational to think we can sprint headlong into it. We're at a slow crawl, but a slow crawl is much better than standing still, that's for sure.
I agree with ShyGothGirl....and then I trump you all by agreeing with everybody.
I like your response Karen. You are fast becoming my heroine.