Some people are taking this far too seriously. It was just a couple of drunk rednecks showing their maturity level,
Is this a Hate Crime? Really???
- Thread starter Goober
- Start date
Doesn't matter, what they did was against the law, and not realizing for what ever reason is not an excuse.
Yep, I would agree a law was broken, in my opinion any destruction for no reason is objectionable. The culprits should probably be fined $10.
I agree with gerryh on this one, they hate gays and used the burning of the flag
to demonstrate that. Maybe they burned the flag because they are ignorant and
too dumb to be able to make a cross to burn on the lawn.
Yup, in my view its a hate crime
to demonstrate that. Maybe they burned the flag because they are ignorant and
too dumb to be able to make a cross to burn on the lawn.
Yup, in my view its a hate crime
How much would you set it at?
There is a fine line to tread here. I think as a free country we should be able to love, like, dislike and hate whatever and whomever we choose. Merely hating someone doesn't necessarily translate into doing them harm. Merely hating a "gay flag" doesn't necessarily translate into hating a gay person. How can you prove that the person didn't merely dislike the design or the colour?
So you really think 6 months to a year is commensurate with the value of the flag? Are people's likes and hates supposed to coincide with yours? I think you are transferring the dislike/hatred of the object to the dislike/hatred of a person or group.
I think the way the hate crime law works is that you would take the normal sentence for the crime itself, in this case theft and destruction of private property, and increase the penalty if it can be proven to be hate motivated. The mere fact that the gay pride flag was specifically targeted, and was the only target, would pretty much seal the offendor's fate on that part in my mind but I'm no lawyer.
I have a slight problem with this. I think as part of our basic rights and freedoms, we have the right to hate whoever/whatever we want. I don't however believe we have the right to cause damage to whatever/whoever and we have laws in place to cover this. Throw out the stupid "Hate laws".
Another flaw with the "Hate laws" is they are not administered equally. Is it a worse crime for a heterosexual to hate a homosexual than another heterosexual? I don't think so. Can anyone show me an instance where a heterosexual has been charged with hating another heterosexual?
We all have a right to be "offended" by something or other...
Only when the offence includes bodily harm, actual or implied, or financial harm to single or multiple individuals should the law step in.
Otherwise, it will lead to abuse by "select" "special" groups such as we have seen with the CHRC in the past.
You might not like being called Frog or Pollock or Whop or Queer...etc...etc... but sticks and stones! burning a flag, or a book is deemed a symbolic gesture....and usually falls under freedom of speech....the design of the flag should make no difference....and usually doesn't unless you're "special" or PC.....
That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it;-)
Only when the offence includes bodily harm, actual or implied, or financial harm to single or multiple individuals should the law step in.
Otherwise, it will lead to abuse by "select" "special" groups such as we have seen with the CHRC in the past.
You might not like being called Frog or Pollock or Whop or Queer...etc...etc... but sticks and stones! burning a flag, or a book is deemed a symbolic gesture....and usually falls under freedom of speech....the design of the flag should make no difference....and usually doesn't unless you're "special" or PC.....
That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it;-)
I'd say burning any flag is fine. It harms no one, it only offends some. We dont have a right to not be offended and thats a good thing.
Burning a bra was never any problem and I've found better things behind a bra than any flag! -
Indeed. If your loyalty is to a piece of coloured cloth, you are a fool. If your loyalty is to Canada, then the burning of every Canadian flag ever made will affect you not at all.
