Hate crimes don’t make a special class of victims
Re: “Hate crimes and special victims,” June 29 Kathleen Parker column.
Kathleen Parker’s suggestion that hate-crime laws require “mind-reading” and deem some victims “more special than others” minimizes the impact of hate violence and the efficacy of hate-crime laws.
Hate-crime laws, including those adopted by Colorado and 44 other states, do not punish thoughts; rather, they punish criminal action. A crime is labeled as a “hate crime” only when the perpetrator intentionally targets another person based on race, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation. Even then, intentional motive must be proven with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. That high bar, which is a far cry from “mind-reading,” prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to unanimously uphold hate-crime laws against a First Amendment challenge in 1993.
Moreover, hate-crime laws do not give a select group of victims “special rights.” They protect all citizens from being targeted because of immutable characteristics. Hate crimes undermine the very fabric of our democratic, civil society. These important laws recognize that hate crimes intimidate whole communities and deserve a unique and focused response from both law enforcement and the community as a whole.
Bruce H. DeBoskey, Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League, Lakewood
High court’s decision on race in school admissions
Re: “Race one factor in admissions,” June 30 editorial.
Shame on The Post for its misleading and misrepresented editorial concerning the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in the recent case involving race-based decisions in primary education. The Post is almost as nimble at twisting the meaning of the ruling as Chief Justice John Roberts was in crafting it. Relying solely on Justice Anthony Kennedy’s lukewarm acquiescence to the conservative bloc of the court, The Post attempts to have its cake and eat it, too. At the same time, it completely misreads the controversial decision.
The Seattle and Louisville, Ky., schools were not using race as the only factor in deciding what school a child should attend; rather, they were attempting to provide a better balance to all schools and use race only as a consideration where space was limited and racial makeup was decidedly out of balance – a worthy compromise for a laudable larger goal. Now the court says race cannot be considered at all.
To the parents of minority students, the decision is clear: Your child’s race may have an effect on every other aspect of their life but it will not be considered in regards to their education.
Derald Hagberg, Littleton
Remembering Larry Manzanares as a great jurist
Lawrence Manzanares was a good judge. I was on the jury for what could have been a sensational double-murder trial. After the defendant pleaded guilty on the second day, Manzanares gave the dismissed jury a tour of his chambers and discussed the law, the possible outcomes of this plea bargain (guilty, provided he was imprisoned outside Colorado to avoid his gang-mates’ retribution), and, most significantly to me, the jury system and its admitted “cons” and decided “pros.” Before that experience, I had the customary dread of jury service. Since, I am a convert. I will not begrudge having to serve on a jury in the future. Having heard his explanation of the assets of the jury system, I recognize how lucky Americans are to have the jury system, even with its inherent flaws. It was Larry Manzanares who gave my jury that invaluable education. Certainly, there are other judges who contribute as much or more. Nonetheless, whatever may have been the circumstances of his demise, I lament the loss of an excellent jurist.
Stephanie Berg Oram, Denver
In defense of PrideFest
Re: “Gay pride needs new direction,” June 24 Perspective article.
As the assistant coordinator for the 2007 PrideFest, I was appalled by Keith Swain’s article.
He first protests the inclusiveness of the LGBT community. At a time when I was questioning my orientation, the Denver LGBT Center was there for me, as it is for thousands of LGBT individuals every year. At the center, I learned that it is OK to be questioning. It is OK to be gay, lesbian or anything in between. It doesn’t matter how you perceive yourself. We are all community, regardless of our orientation, of how we dress or our physical appearance. There is no segregation, just a caring, diverse community.
Mr. Swain criticizes the “sexual inclusion” of PrideFest. Perhaps the reason is because bisexual and transgendered/transexual individuals were not welcomed anywhere else except in the gay/lesbian community. I have seen that the LGBT community welcomes everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Again, the LGBT community does not practice segregation.
I was at PrideFest both days. None of the participants I saw looked like they were from a “sexual fringe” community. I saw no “sexual displays.” I saw women, men and children having a good time, celebrating being together. Yes, the glitter and the leather harnesses were there, but those individuals are part of the larger LGBT community. The LGBT community doesn’t discriminate.
PrideFest is about one thing: celebrating the LGBT, in all its rainbow colors.
Kathi Gale Hamby, Denver
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