HR 1592 You Will Be Assimilated

This has passed the house and is in the Senate. The State (Big government, federal, State or even city) is populated by those who think they are wiser than others and see salvation as coming through big gov't. Thanks to FrontPage Magazine via Pearcy Report,whole column

Think No Evil
By Janet Levy
FrontPageMagazine.com | July 27, 2007

...Further, under this type of legislation, the OSU librarian could be prosecuted for offering books that opposed a homosexual lifestyle, but conversely, Christian students, a non-protected group, would have not be able to similarly claim sexual harassment if they objected to a showing of “Brokeback Mountain.”

Under H.R. 1592, it is also unclear which protected groups have precedence over other protected groups. Is the stoning of homosexuals justified under the sharia or Islamic law? Could harassment of gays be the privileged domain of a protected religion? Under H.R. 1592, how would this be decided and by whom? Which prejudices will qualify for special consideration under federal hate crimes legislation and how will this be decided?

In addition, hate crime legislation abridges the right to free speech and religious expression protected by the First Amendment and could lead to censorship. Statements by individuals regarding their beliefs and values are currently protected, but hate crime laws could end critical discussions and examination of religions and religious practices. It is conceivable that with the adoption of federal hate crimes legislation, the expression of religious values that uphold the protection of life and traditional family values could be judged as discriminatory and evidence of harassment of homosexuals. Meanwhile, the promotion of homosexuality to children and the glorification of the homosexual lifestyle could be legally sanctioned as a necessary policy for a protected group....

In the words of Canadian columnist Lorne Gunter, “Hate-crimes laws are based on the fallacious premise that we may be punished for our thoughts and feelings, not just our actions. And insisting the state has the ability to look into our hearts and minds and adjust the contents is a very dangerous line to cross. It gives legislators, the courts, and human-rights tribunals far too much power to decide what emotions and beliefs are acceptable and, more ominously, which are not.