Following right wing "logic", should we remove religion from the hate crimes laws already in place?

[ck4829]

Poll question: Following right wing "logic", should we remove religion from the hate crimes laws already in place?

"Every crime is a hate crime!"
"Hate crime laws will have a chilling effect!"
"Hate crime laws are thought crime laws!"

(Disclaimer - I don't really think that religion should be removed from hate crime laws in place)

[T Wolf]

1. religion is a chosen status, not an innate one like race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality.

It should NOT be a protected one.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Jews would not agree with you. (nt)

[Fumesucker]

4. No one ever converts away from Judaism?

I find that hard to believe..

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. They do.

It's one of those "eye of the beholder" kind of things, though. Don't ask me, I don't totally understand the rationale either.

[Canuckistanian]

5. So you're "born Jewish" and you can never change that?

It's a choice.

[cali]

7. really? it certainly wasn't a choice for Jews in Nazi Germany, was it?

Nor was it/is it, in many other countries. Judaism is a religion. Being Jewish is also an ethnicity- or at least that's how it's been treated in many places throughout the world for centuries. In fact, according to a 1987 Supreme Court finding, for purposes of anti-discrimination, Jews were held to be a race. Now, I think that's clearly wrong, but it's all a bit more complicated than "it's a choice".

I grew up in a town in CT where Jews weren't allowed to be members of the Country Club. This was in the seventies. My folks sponsored a Jewish family for membership. When they were told in no uncertain terms that this family (close friends of my parents) wouldn't be considered because of their race, my parents quit.

[Canuckistanian]

12. Whatever.

I really don't feel like arguing about this right now.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. Depends on who you ask.

And for the record, I don't agree with that ideology either, but I've encountered plenty of people that say exactly that - that you are born Jewish and will never not be a Jew. Similarly, many don't consider converts to Judaism to be Jews either.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I think hate crimes should be called exactly what they are - terrorism.

I don't understand the separate distinction, frankly.

[leftofthedial]

6. all protections and special status for religion should be eliminated.

we can no longer afford superstition and division. Religion yields death.




Well, you asked.

[cali]

8. then get to work changing the constitution.

[leftofthedial]

10. yes ma'am.

right away ma'am.