Teen Hate Crime Attack Sparks Debate

[kweerwolf]

MADISON, Wis. -- Two teenagers were attacked at East Towne Mall Monday night, in what authorities are calling a hate crime.

<snip>

"The victims kept walking throughout the mall and were being badgered by the other individuals," said Officer Mike Hanson. "The victims were trying to avoid the individuals, who continued badgering about their sexual orientation. Ultimately it led to a fight."

<snip>

The suspects were eventually arrested and charged with battery, hate crime, disorderly conduct and obstructing justice, among other things.

"One of the most disturbing things about this situation is that it was right out in a very public place," said Outreach board president Bill Turner. "Surely the attackers must have known they were going to get caught. That indicates a level of confidence on the part of the attacker that I think is very disturbing here, too."

http://www.channel3000.com/news/6824431/detail.html

[xchrom]

1. jerry falwell does it, pat robertson does it, the pope with his purge

does it -- where does the violence begin?

with the attackers or those who incite the violence?

for me it's those who incite -- first because i don't believe them -- they are purposely tryin to get others to act out this violence for their own purposes.

second because in the logic of those who do the inciting -- they would blame the victim in the long run.

[joeybee12]

2. I'm not saying the fundies drove these kids to do it...

...I don't want to get into a cause and effect argument, but when you have fundies and Repukes going on and on about how evil and unnatural homsexuality is, then it gives a sort of legitimacy for these attackers, at least in their warped little minds.

[Jella]

4. and when you have mainstream churches

stay silent, it's silent approval to what folks like to say are views only expressed by 'fundies'

I'm sorry that many don't like to hear that religion is in my view the root of this hatred but to not say is to allow such abuse to continue unchecked. The assault one feels when I make such allegations hopefully to them gives them a slight insight into what it feels like to gay folks insulted on a day to day basis. I know it's not all persons of faith, and to them I say please bare with me, I was baptized Protestant, and was saved in a Baptist church August 8, 1974, I am a Christian, so I'm not saying this as a person whom don't know of what I speak.

[joeybee12]

5. Welcome!

Yeah, religion can be the source of great good, yet also the source of evil...shouldn't be that way.

[Oversea Visitor]

3. I guess Gays are a minority

And when the majority send the signal that it is all right to mistreat gay fucks like this happen.
Sad but the propoganda are all responsible for this.
In the bid for power
The use of talking points without proper thinking is dangerous.
It is sad that this happening in America
1) Abortion..... this will lead to hate crime no winners
2) Religion..... another no winner
3) Gay and sexual orientation another no winner.

This all the opening of cans of worms.
This all will haunt every American for many years
How sad that issue like this become tool of politicians

[Occulus]

7. The sad part is the loss of living

Just stop for a second and think of all the little ways we lose experience in life simply because we can't do the same things straight people can.

Things as simple as walking down the street holding hands- completely taken for granted by heterosexuals- can get us beaten and/or killed.

I hoe there is an afterlife- just so I can be, like most people here in this life can...

[Occulus]

6. Situations like this prove to me only one thing:

ALL gays should own a firearm- and a concealed-carry permit should be an open option.

I would have been very satisfied with this if one of the people being attacked had been armed. We need to make the point that if you do this to us, you could die. We need to make that point loudly, publicly, and most of all credibly. That means we need to actually start using lethal force when we are attacked- so homophobes and bigots everywhere will know we will do so.

Am I advocating violence? No, I'm advocating self-defense.That that defense is violent is in direct proportion to the potential danger, and when you're being attacked by bigots like these, you must assume they're willing to kill you and therefore act in kind.

[kevinbgoode]

8. For one thing, this took place in a shopping mall

and while it was in public, it was also on private property. Mall security should have intervened at once, and the mall should be held accountable. I would recommend you email the shopping center and demand that the perpetrators be banned from the property permanently and ask for an explanation as to why the shopping center allowed such harassment of customers to continue until it erupted into violence.