Wednesday, November 29, 2006

'What's Wrong With 'Anti-Hate' Laws?'

From http://z13.invisionfree.com/THE_UNHIVED_MIND/index.php?showtopic=17508


'What's Wrong With 'Anti-Hate' Laws?'

By Rev. Ted Pike

11-28-6

Everyone is against hate, so what's wrong with a federal "anti-hate" law? The problem is its false definition of hate. The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, architect of hate laws worldwide, says "hate" equals bias against federally protected groups, particularly homosexuals. What document is most biased against homosexuality? The Holy Bible. Although all lovers of free speech are threatened, Bible-believing Christians are the ultimate target of the twisted definitions of "hate" on which the federal bill is based. This federal hate bill has been repeatedly defeated by Congress, but will certainly be reintroduced by ADL now that Democrats control the House and Senate. Defenders of the bill claim its only purpose is to combat violent hate crimes. Yet in Canada and many European countries, hate laws criminalize criticism of homosexuality. Through enabling legislation and legal precedent, hate laws quickly broaden to defend not just the physical safety of homosexuals, but their hurt feelings.


"Hate crimes" soon mean "hate speech." Phony Statistics The bill's supporters claim there is an "epidemic of hate" in America. This crisis, they contend, demands massive federal legislation. Yet the FBI's 2005 Uniform Crime Report shows alleged hate crimes comprise a tiny one-fifteenth of one percent of all crime in America. This is hardly a crisis requiring a vast federal 'anti-hate' bureaucracy with unlimited power to invade state law enforcement! Also, at least 95 percent of so-called hate crimes reported by the FBI have never been tried in court. Most are nothing but police opinions concerning verbal "intimidation" and petty assault and vandalism. If Congress passes the federal hate bill this spring, it won't be in response to a genuine emergency. Phony statistics have been manipulated to create the illusion of crisis.

Democrats Will Vote for Hate Bill

Over the past eight years, Republicans in Congress have been able to repeatedly defeat the federal hate bill.

Yet Democrats now control the House and Senate. Unless there is an upheaval of protest, the hate bill is sure to pass this spring. If only enough angry Americans call in now, maybe ADL will lose its nerve and delay reintroduction for another year. It is vital NOW to awaken Americans to this threat to free speech. Much attention has been paid to the Patriot Act's danger to privacy. Yet Christian conservative leaders, pastors, and talk show hosts have been largely silent about a greater threat: loss of free speech due to passage of hate laws. Patriots must call members of Congress, toll free at 1-877-851-6437, and protest. Visit www.truthtellers.org for the complete list of the members of the new Congress and how you can most effectively impact them. The phone calls of outraged citizens killed the hate bill at least three times in the past two years. Your protest to Congress NOW can do it again!

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