Still about the Matthew Shepard Act (hate crimes). This is the letter that I sent into the newspaper. Even if it doesn't get published (highly unlikely that it will), at least I'm trying to do my part.
It is astonishing to read some of the debate regarding the Matthew Shepard Act. The amount of ignorance and sheer bigotry is, frankly, terrifying. Our government is being influenced by people who don't even understand what they are protesting.
A section of this Act reads: “Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this act, shall be construed to prohibit any expression conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment of the Constitution.”
Therefore, people "logically" arguing that this will take away their freedom of speech are wrong. People who say that this will make anti-gay thoughts illegal have not even glanced over this bill.
Of course, there's also have the religious aspect, that this is "against God's will." Did I miss the memo? Since when are we a theocracy? We are NOT a religious based government nor should our society be governed by religion. And doesn't another part of Leviticus (the main section of the bible used for anti-gay propaganda) state that it is acceptable to enslave peoples of neighboring countries? So does that mean I can go up to Canada and bring back a few of their citizens as my personal slaves?
This act just trying to protect all of our citizens, whatever race, gender, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It's trying to ensure that NO American is targeted for violence, simply because of who they are. What's so wrong about that?
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