I'm looking for a definition of "hate speech" re LTE

[Tansy_Gold]

A letter was recently published in my local newspaper which appeared to me to advocate violence against people who don't believe in Christmas, don't celebrate Christmas, and/or write LTEs supporting separation of church and state. Leading up to the holidays, there had been a number of letters printed regarding Christmas-specific decorations put up at taxpayer expense, more or less along the lines of the general discussion here on DU.

However, this more recent letter included this line --

"Those who attempt to discredit all that has been a part of our lives for over 200 years are nothing more then /sic/ the discontented who along with their ideological views should spend Christmas at the bottom of a septic tank."

My question -- does anyone think this might constitute "hate speech?"


Tansy Gold, wondering