2008 Woodie Awards
Hate Crimes
Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: Opinion
Living in California, most of us are exposed to diversity on a daily basis. When was the last time that any So Cal resident spent a day in which they weren't around somebody of a different race, religion or sexual orientation? The answer is probably never.
In spite of this constant proximity to those who are different from us, some people (the minority in this state, the majority in most other states) are terrified of anything that is in any way different from themselves.
The nation has (for the most part) gotten over discriminating based on race. We can deal with Hispanics, we can deal with African Americans, and we can deal with Asians and any of the different flavors of human you throw at us. Hell, we can even deal with other faiths; America is a haven for those trying to escape religious persecution in their home countries, and people are allowed to worship freely no matter what their beliefs, our constitution specifically says so in the First Amendment.
So why is it, with this high level of tolerance for all kinds of people, America is still having trouble accepting homosexuals? Our president is continually calling for an amendment banning gay marriage so we can protect the "sanctity" of a traditional family unit. Some state governors pride themselves on being anti-gay, and the conservative media is constantly attacking the homosexual lifestyle and gay rights.
When is it all going to end?
America needs to realize that people are just people; that's all there is to it. People can do what they want, that's the whole appeal of this country. Americans have more choices and freedoms than anyone in the world, except when it comes to gay rights or to the protection of homosexuals.
In 1998, after the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, former-President Bill Clinton (in one of the better moves of his presidency) tried to make it a hate crime to attack someone on the basis of sexuality. His attempt failed, and even in Wyoming, where Shepard was killed, the protection of homosexuals hasn't been brought up to snuff.
In spite of this constant proximity to those who are different from us, some people (the minority in this state, the majority in most other states) are terrified of anything that is in any way different from themselves.
The nation has (for the most part) gotten over discriminating based on race. We can deal with Hispanics, we can deal with African Americans, and we can deal with Asians and any of the different flavors of human you throw at us. Hell, we can even deal with other faiths; America is a haven for those trying to escape religious persecution in their home countries, and people are allowed to worship freely no matter what their beliefs, our constitution specifically says so in the First Amendment.
So why is it, with this high level of tolerance for all kinds of people, America is still having trouble accepting homosexuals? Our president is continually calling for an amendment banning gay marriage so we can protect the "sanctity" of a traditional family unit. Some state governors pride themselves on being anti-gay, and the conservative media is constantly attacking the homosexual lifestyle and gay rights.
When is it all going to end?
America needs to realize that people are just people; that's all there is to it. People can do what they want, that's the whole appeal of this country. Americans have more choices and freedoms than anyone in the world, except when it comes to gay rights or to the protection of homosexuals.
In 1998, after the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, former-President Bill Clinton (in one of the better moves of his presidency) tried to make it a hate crime to attack someone on the basis of sexuality. His attempt failed, and even in Wyoming, where Shepard was killed, the protection of homosexuals hasn't been brought up to snuff.
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