by Cyn Lee

Created on: January 01, 2010   Last Updated: March 02, 2011

The hatred it takes to commit an act of violence against someone different  runs deep.   It will take more than law and punishment to deter the depths of some indifference.    Most  hate crimes are committed spontaneously so  fear of punishment doesn't come into play.  The prejudice and  hate some feel is momentary.  They don't like what they see and  act out with violence against it.  Most people who hate so deeply were raised in violence and it's all they know   They are born to ignorance, a way of life so deeply bred it's hard to undo.   Hate crimes are similar to crimes of passion.   Many happen quick and without thought.   

People harbor hate for reasons beyond reason.   For some, they’ll use hate as a way to show strength when they really feel weak.   As the saying goes, “If you do not like yourself how can you like anyone else?"   You can't.   The same emotion transcends respect.    If you do not respect yourself,  then you'll have a hard time respecting others.    

Perhaps steep punishments for hate crimes will deter  some groups  who in the past have specifically aimed at those different.  However, many violent crimes aimed at gays or the overweight  happen for no  reason other than appearance.  Gay-bashing is still prevalent.   The bullying of an overweight  child or young adult is so prevalent, some states have had to create anti bullying laws.    Some of these same states disallow gay marriage.   Perhaps prejudice runs deeper than believed. 

  Many hate crimes are not planned.   When they are, the  fear of punishment  isn't  even considered.     When you have a gang of youths who are out to get wild and they see people who are different,  pain will be inflicted no matter what the penalty.    Getting heavily punished isn't  in the small mind of those committing  crimes based on anger and hatred.   Their reasoning potential  is occupied  by a frenzy to hurt, maim,  and even kill.   

Those responsible in the unbelievably disgusting death of Mathew Shepard did not contemplate their fate as they beat to death an innocent young gay man.  They just wanted to hurt someone they felt stronger than.  They used his difference as an excuse for the death.  Maybe Hate Crime Laws will deter some, others  remain too full of hatred to care. 

The only way to prevent  hate crimes  and to undo the amount of hate in the world, is to teach  respect.   Having respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for the different ways people are entitled to live should  be a foundation for  educating children in the decades to come.   Respect should be taught to children every day of their lives.  Then maybe,  just maybe,  the hatred involved in all shreds of crime will slow.   This would allow  all people to feel as they too were created equally....

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