Hatecrimes

New Bill in Congress to make Crimes against Gays a Hate Crime. I always wondered about hate crimes. if I kill someone I am guilty of murder and can be punishable by death. If I do it against a protected minority (it always seems the minorities are protected not the majority) than I can be accused of a hate crime. What are they going to do? Kill me again?
AMerica has this thing called Free Speech. It is often abused--as Move Org and Media Matters have been doing recently. But it exists. Part of free speech is my inherent right to think as I wish (no matter how badly or filthy or deviously). Hate crimes is a not so subtle attempt to instill politically correct thoughts in everyone. I always thought that no matter if I hated the person next to me, if I did not say or do anything or showed that hatred in any way, no harm no foul. I guess not. As Jimmy Carter once said, "I have lusted in my heart." Well today he might be found guilty of sexual harassement just for thinking that thought.
Just another thought. We can have hate crimes against gays and blacks and women but when was the last time you had a hate crime against Christians or Men or the Middle Class? Why the exception? If you are going to do it, do it right and exclude all hate crimes against all persons irregardless. But you cannot otherwise no one would speak at all to anyone else. (Isnt hate subjective anyway? If I love you and you do not love me than not stating that love to me is hating me isnt it?) Oh well. You get my point.
I would do away with all hate crimes. You can think it just do not do it. and we have enough laws on the books as it is anyway.
pah