A Sikh temple was the scene of the most recent slaughter of innocents. Oak Creek, Wis., the most recent killing field has raised a lot of questions around the country. Why kill innocent worshipers? Are these killings hate crimes?
Our nation has always been a melting pot of varied origins. Our society has always adopted those who come from other lands. There has always been a struggle to assimilate.
That symbol of American promise inscribed on the Statue of Liberty is one of our nation’s mottos: “...Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp! Cries she with silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Emma Lazarus’ famous poem is often recited, but few recall the essence of the verse.
I believe those words are still applicable today. Even though a neo-Nazi poured out his rage, the United State still remains one of the only remaining sanctuaries on Earth that remains a haven for freedom-loving people.
However, statistics show that hate crimes in America have increased dramatically from 2000 to 2011. In 2000 602 hate crimes were committed. Eleven years later the number had risen to 1,018. Not surprising, California, one of the most populous states and a border state with Mexico’s drug and people smuggling, reported the greatest number of hate crimes — 84. Georgia was next with 65 hate crimes. Minnesota? Our state reported 12 hate crimes, while our neighbor, Wisconsin, reported eight hate crimes, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
It appears that the latest violence against the Sikh temple was one of ignorance. It appears that the shooter, one Wade Michael Page, had assumed the Sikhs were Muslims.
Meanwhile, an Islamic mosque in Joplin, Mo., was torched Monday. “The fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin was reported about 3:30 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
Hate, as defined by Mr. Webster is “intense hostility,” was the fuel of these two recent crimes.
Just like the killings last month in Colorado, it is the twisted mind of man, not his choice of a gun or a match, that must change.
Keith Hansen
Comments (7)
Add commentno documentation for your conclusions
You make a good case for stating that hate crimes and domestic terrorism are on the rise in the U.S., Mr. Hansen.
But where in your data points is there evidence to support your conclusion that the easy availability of assault weapons and ammunition play no part in this increase, especially when comparing weapon availabilty in the US to weapon availability in other parts of the world?
Shadrack is right.
In the USA most criminals have to use semi-automatics and in Mexico, the Middle East, and many other Third World countries they have full automatics, grenades and rocket launchers at their disposal.
It's a good thing we have laws controlling those types of weapons here.
curious comment from fnb with narrow perspective
fnb, I notice you don't comment on the European countries where the violent crime rate is considerably lower than the US.
Nahh,
they just blow up a whole subway or something there or let rioting fools and planted Muslims destroy millions of euros worth of property. I always like the picture of that Asian guy, with an AR-15 in front of his store in LA years ago. In your beautiful European Utopia he'd have had to run away and let the punks destroy it. Liberals usually don't include riot and protest damage (like from OWS people, assult, robbery, rapes etc) in their "violent crime statistics" .
fact of the matter is criminals will always have guns, any gun
All gun control does is take guns away from the people who respect them. Those that dont (criminals), it does not do a dang thing. Chicago handgun laws, ring a bell?
Well in case you libbies forget, when the gun control was in place, violent crimes skyrocketed. When they were lifted, there was a sharp drop.
While I assume that the information was obtained
through the Southern Poverty Law Center, it must be noted that this organization is slanted towards mainly White Supremists. Although there are those on the other side of the coin, little is said about them. This is also an organization devoted to illegal's rights and those of the LGBT.
I love the 4 thumbs
down for saying what the OWS and the Wisconsin union crowds really did. I'd name the people that did the downers but they'd deny it.