THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH... - AT 8:15 P.M. ET:  No decent person likes hate crimes or hate speech.  However, attempts to tack the word "hate" onto legislation can come back to haunt us, no matter how pure our intentions:

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to extend new federal protections to people who are victims of violent crime because of their gender or sexual orientation, bringing the measure close to reality after years of fierce debate.

The 68-to-29 vote sends the legislation to President Obama, who has said he supports it.

The measure, attached to an essential military-spending bill, broadens the definition of federal hate crimes to include those committed because of a victim’s gender or gender identity, or sexual orientation. It gives victims the same federal safeguards already afforded to people who are victims of violent crimes because of their race, color, religion or national origin.

COMMENT:  We certainly want to punish people who commit those crimes.  The problem comes as we increasingly broaden the definition of "hate."  We've seen what's happened on college campuses where, to avoid "hate," speech codes have been enacted that restrict even legitimate political and social discussion. 

And we've seen the word "hate" used to play favorites with groups.  Criticize a member of one group and it's "hate."  Say the same thing about a member of a less-favored group, and it's "robust speech" (an actual term used by the ACLU).

And, with misguided American support, a unit of the UN is moving toward adoption of a program against "defamation" of religion, which some have interpreted as meaning any criticism of Islam.

Do we want a better, more civil society?  Sure.  But that's a loaded concept, especially when you start punishing people for what they think, or even what they say.  By all means, fight hatred.  But I'm uneasy when colleges, schools, religious institutions and the government get into the act, swayed by whichever group has the largest megaphone.

October 22, 2009