Before recipiants of this petition automatically sign it, as if it is an
unquestionably good thing, consider:

Hate, is a motivation. Is it appropriate to designate crimes based on the
motivation? If so, there ought to be Greed crimes, Desperation crimes,
Curiosity crimesPain crimes, and so on.

I don't see the purpose in creating entirely new categories of crimes
based on motivation. Motivations are not crimes. The law should act to
restrain an individual when it has ample evidence that such individual can
not, or will not respect the rights of another person. And, that person
ought to be restrained until a court has ample proof that he or she is no
longer a threat.

Motivation is irrelevant. It makes no difference to me if I am assaulted
by a person who hates me, or by a person who loves me. The law should
only consern itself with a person's willingness or ability to respect my
rights.

Peter Seymour

On Fri, 27 Nov 1998, Robert Roberts wrote:

> >The "Stop The Hate" Petition
> >
> >Opening Statement:
> >"As a religious voice, we state strongly that violence on the basis of
> >sexual orientation, race or gender is wrong, is evil, is reprehensible."
> >
> >-John Buehren, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association,
> >speaks for Unitarian Universalists but his words are reflected in the
> >hearts of people everywhere who believe we must speak out, take action
> >against, and condemn hate crimes in all their ugly forms.
> >
> >A resolution follows:
> >
> >WHEREAS: We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every
> >person; and
> >WHEREAS: We commend the efforts of those individuals who dedicate their
> >lives to causes of social justice and human rights; and
> >WHEREAS: We support actions that protect the individual's rights of
> >life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
> >THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That we hereby urge the passage of The Hate
> >Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), H.R.3081 and S.1529
> >
> >The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), H.R.3081 and S.1529, would amend
> >current federal law (which permits federal prosecution of a hate crime
> >only if the crime was motivated by bias based on religion, national
> >origin, or color ) to include real or perceived sexual orientation,
> >gender, and disability so the FBI would be able to investigate and
> >prosecute violent hate crimes against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
> >
> >Under this bill, hate crimes that cause death or bodily injury because
> >of prejudice can be investigated federally, regardless of whether the
> >victim was exercising a federally protected right.
> >
> >The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of
> >support for this change to the current law is by making our voices
> >heard.
> >
> >Please add your name to this petition and forward it to friends who
> >believe in what it stands for. The petition will then be forwarded to
> >the President of The United States; the Vice President of the United
> >States; and our United States Senators and House Members.
> >
> >Petition Management:
> >1. This petition is being passed around the Internet. Please add your
> >name to it so that we can have tougher laws against all hate crimes.
> >Please keep the petition rolling. Do not reply to me. Please sign and
> >forward to others to sign. This is being forwarded to several people at
> >once to add their names. It will not matter if many people receive the
> >same list as the names are being managed.
> >
> >2. If you print out this petition for signing please email the listing
> >of names with locations to the email address:
> >[log in to unmask]
> >(an email address created to receive this petition) Include a note to
> >indicate you have a hand-signed petition and include the number of names
> >listed.
> >
> >3. If you happen to be the 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th, etc. signer of
> >this petition, please forward a copy to the email address:
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >4. If you sign, please pass it on to others. If not, please do not kill
> >it: send it on to the email address:  [log in to unmask]
> >
> >Thank You
> >Leslie Palmer
> >
> >.... I cannot stay silent, my outrage and compassion will not allow.
> >--------------------------------------------
> >Note: It is preferable that you Select the entirety of this letter and
> >then COPY it into a new outgoing message, add your name to the bottom of
> >the list, then send it on. Or if option is available, do a SEND AGAIN
> >--------------------------------------------------
> >Sign Here:
> >1) Leslie Palmer, Jacksonville, FL
> >2) Stephen Silverman, South Burlington, VT
> >3) Wayne Arnason
> >4) Theo Diamond, Charlottesville, Va
> >5) Sasha Kopf, Northampton, MA / Princeton, NJ
> >6) Geoffrey B. Metz, Tufts Univ., Medford, MA
> >7) Arjuna Greist, Pitzer College, Claremont CA
> >8) Noella Natalino, Smith College, Norhampton MA
> >9) Anna Corwin, Madison, CT
> >10) Lexie Bouwsma, New Haven, CT
> >11) Michelle Nitkowski, Meriden, CT
> >12) Matt Kramar, Guilford, CT
> >13) Renee Risingsong, Hanover, NH
> >14) Xenia Markowitt, Hanover, NH
> >15) Laurie E. Levinger, Norwich, VT
> >16) Josh Levinger, Norwich VT
> >17)  Carolyn Taylor Brown, Monterey, CA
> >18)  Jonathan Jay Langley, Monterey, CA
> >19) Carolyn Hubbard, Monterey, CA
> >20) Rebecca Ann Winkler, Ann Arbor, MI
> >21) Erin N. Winkler, Berkeley, CA
> >22) Rose DeLuca, Ann Arbor, MI
> >23) Leonard J. Scott, Ann Arbor, MI
> >24) Susan A. Wilson, Ann Arbor, MI
> >25) Jackie Simpson, Ann Arbor, MI
> >26. Becki Elkins Nesheim, College Station, TX
> >27. Winnie Fink, South San Francisco, CA
> >28. Lori Schneider, Chicago, IL
> >29. Diane R. Baer, Seattle, WA
> >30. Sherry V. Appleton, Poulsbo, WA
> >31. Joan Schrammeck, Okanogan County, WA
> >32. Alison Alfonzo Pence, Seattle, WA
> >33. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Seattle, WA
> >34. Soya Jung
> >35. Loan Nguyen, Seattle, WA
> >36. Ron Chew, Seattle, WA
> >37. Benling Wong, Seattle, WA
> >38. Gregory Tuai, Seattle, WA
> >39. Grant Din, Oakland, CA
> >40. Michael Wong, San Francisco, CA
> >41. Sue Wong, San Francisco, CA
> >
> >
>
>
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>


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
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