It’s worth noting that when performing a
hate crime, one is not only attacking the victim but also creating an atmosphere of fear in the
minority group the crime is directed against. Furthermore,
history tells us that violent crimes against minorities help create a frame of mind in which discrimination is easier.
“Heck, I ain’t beating him ‘cause his a Niger, I just want him to drink with his kind.”
The early and mid 20th century taught us some lessons we shouldn’t forget. Even now, in the United States as well as the rest of the world, people are being chased for their sexuality, race and sex. While violence in general shouldn’t be tolerated (it should have its ass kicked ;-) ), violence that intimidates and sends people hiding because of who they are should be more severely punished. A person performing a hate crime isn’t only hurting his/her victim – s/he is intimidating a group and is tearing a hole in the delicate fabric of society.