Matthew Shepard not murdered for being gay, new book claims

As far as I am concerned, he was savagely beaten, tortured, and left for dead on a rancher's fence where he later died of the inflicted injuries. That's the crime. The jury didn't buy the gay panic defense then, and no one is buying it (or any other defense) now. Whether any of these claims are true is beside the point. A heinous murder was committed and the assailants are exactly where they belong. Justice was done.

Was just talking about whether or not the milgram experiment would go down the same way today. I really dont think it would. Young adults today may be more entitled, but I think they are also a little more independent and more likely to question authority.

Hate crime is just another way of saying thought crime.

Not really. Young adults in the U.S. like to think they are independent thinkers and that "no one can tell them what to do".

They think that but overall, they are grossly immature. Immature young adults are even easier to direct and channel than others. Like cattle through a squeeze chute. They instinctively go forward because they see no way of going back or stopping indefinitely.

Only if you can kill people with your mind.

No, that's what they are pushed to by people like you who feel that people in certain positions automatically deserve respect. Young people today are told and led to believe they can't think for themselves.

You predictably miss the point. If I shoot and kill a black man because I want to steal his wallet, I'm guilty of murder. If I shoot the black man while screaming the "N" word, apparently I'd be guilty of a hate crime. The victim isn't any deader than he was in the first scenario, but somehow the crime is worse by virtue of my state of mind, as evidenced by my verbal statements. So maybe its better to kill the black man while just thinking the "N" word to myself. Its still a hate crime but nobody knows because I didn't say the magic words.

Of course, is it a hate crime if, before I shoot the black man, I write on an online bulletin board that I agreed with the Zimmerman verdict and that I oppose race-based hiring quotas? Since those opinons would clearly show that I hate blacks?

Then do yourself a favor and keep your mouth shut when you kill.

Unfortunately, murder isn't on today's agenda.

I have to agree to Dayton here. It's not just Gen X or Gen Y, but there is something about that white lab coat to the average person where if a scientist or doctor instructs you to do something, most people have this innate nature to comply. So, if you want people to do terrible things for you, dress like a doctor or a Federal Agent. It's amazing what people will do if they think they have a green light from a higher respected or feared authority in society. We drill it into people all through their programming...er...school, so it's not surprising when it happens after you get the diploma and/or degree.

linguistically? possible.

but the intent is more along the lines of anti-terroism intent. That is, for instance, if you are subject to more danger just because you are black, then all black people have been "terrorized" in a way that whites haven't been.

Anti-terrorism has also been used to limit personal freedoms.

Name something that hasn't been used to limit personal freedoms.

Libertarianism.

Libertarianism uses the "no protection = equal protection" fallacy to undermine the personal freedoms of those unable to buy that freedom.

Oh really? Surely you have some evidence to back that up?

Ray just slinked away on that one.

I know better than to waste my time trying to convince Captain X of anything.



But since you're here, I had a question. Have you ever posted a "history as you know it is wrong!!" type thread that attempted to exonerate anyone other than White folks, assorted bigots, or ancestors of yours that died defending slavery? Seems odd that all of your discoveries seem to share that common theme.

Captain X made the first assertion. You're not asking him to back it up. Why is that?

And it's "slunk."

Actually, I slank.

You must be horribly confused. My ancestors fought for small government and lower taxes.