What constitutes a hate crime?

[The Backlash Cometh]

I'm curious because this woman (Saudi) faces felony charges for spitting on Walmart shoppers and saying that "America is pushing us around." I am in no way going to defend her, but I was wondering what pushed it up to the level of a hate crime?

I thought Hate crimes involved language that was openly derogatory toward race or religion? Is it also being applied to nationality now? What other prongs are there? And how much longer before the Republicans, (who think they're the only Americans) begin applying it to hatred against a political affiliation and we all go to jail?

Here's the article:

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110527/NEWS01/105270323/Prosecutors-charge-alleged-spitting-Saudi-woman-hate-crime-charges%3Fodyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

[no_hypocrisy]

1. It's a crime (e.g., assault/battery, murder, etc.) coupled with the intent to

threaten and terrorize a specific group of people, e.g., an ethnic group, a religion, gays, women, a race. The crime is a warning of more of the same harm to other members of that group. The crime may be against an individual or individuals but the intent is for the group from which the victims originated.

As to the particular case you cited, I'm uncertain whether it could be successfully tried as a "hate crime" as the target was "Americans" in general, not African-Americans or any subgroup of American citizens. Being an American is too diverse a category IMO to be a hate crime that has been recognized in the courts.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. That's what I thought. Thanks.

[RandomThoughts]

2. There is a delusion.

who think they're the only Americans Some that use language about there only being some real people have a delusion about that.


Where some think some other people are empty shells. Or don't have souls.

It is easy to happen, although it is in the person that thinks that most of the time. They figure some level of thought means other people do not have souls, by that argument not understanding my posts, I could say that about some other people.

Although I would know that to be a trap.

It is explained well in the movie Langaleers, where Toume thought everyone was monsters. That is another version of that delusion.

There are also delusions where if someone is not of the same 'spiritual group' as you then they are not one of your group, that is a common delusion also.

It is mostly in the minds of the people that think that. There are a few people that you might be able to say are burn outs, but that is where the concept of relight comes in, where you can help a person find meaning and joy again.


And I am due beer and travel money and many experiences.