Nov 13, 2009

The NEW LAW: We are no longer equal!


The Civil War marked an important time in history for us as Americans.  The 14th amendment had passed guaranteeing Americans equal protection under the law no matter what color, creed or ethnicity to which they belong.  For the first time every person in this great country was finally equal in the eyes of our government.  This new amendment added something precious without infringing on any of the rights already guaranteed to us by the original Bill of Rights.  Now in 2009 one hundred and forty one years later, under a new bill the 14th amendment is as good as scrapped.  


With the passing of the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (actually is was tacked on to the 
"2010 National Defense Authorization Act") our right to be equal is gone.  This bill threatens to make it a federal crime to hate someone in your mind, which essentially punishes us for the way we think.  Our President and Senators are telling us that we still have the freedom to hate if we do not act on it physically.  This is a half truth, because the act of assault for example is already illegal and punishable on a local level.  What the bill says is that the federal crime tacked onto the assault charge will be a crime of motivation (which DOES punish one for his or her thoughts).   I would argue that if you act on it physically than the physical act of the crime should be prosecuted not the hate behind the action.  Please don't take my word for it, read a section from the bill itself on page 1059 section 3 lines 16-21 (that's right I've read the whole thing).   


(3) State and local authorities are now and will 16
continue to be responsible for prosecuting the over-17
whelming majority of violent crimes in the United 18
States, including violent crimes motivated by bias. 19
These authorities can carry out their responsibilities 20
more effectively with greater Federal assistance. 21


Just who is equal in the eyes of the NEW LAW?  Well let me tell you they are minorities, women, gays, lesbians, transsexuals, and the disabled.  If you attack one of these protected groups there can and will be essentially two crimes (assault and hate), but if you assault a white heterosexual male there will only be one crime and if you are in one of the aforementioned protected groups then you can probably get off by saying that you acted in fear of your own life because the straight white male hates you.  I happen to be a straight white male and believe that I am no better than any other human being, but I am certainly no worse either.  We deserve and should demand the equal treatment that the constitution promises us.  


I am also a Christian and believe in obeying the powers that be, but fortunately we live in a constitutionally limited republic and not a democracy.  This means that our constitution is one of the powers that we obey and right now it is contradicting itself.  


I believe that at this rate it may soon be illegal for people to speak their minds or practice their religion freely.  A pastor, rabbi, priest, or cleric who says for instance that homosexuality is wrong will become a "hater".  It happened when Nero burned Rome and blamed it on Christians.  The so called "haters" were rounded up and killed.  You may not be religious or a straight white male, but don't you want to live in a country were we are all truly equal with equal protection for every citizen regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual lifestyle?  I do and for many years I did.


13 comments:

Donna (mom) said...

It's sad...what this world is coming to. I mourn for not just myself but, my children and ...Lord help my grand children.

Lindsay Shores said...

scary but Biblically inevitable that this persecution must come before the end! Other countries where the church doesn't have as much freedom thrive under the struggle b/c they are forced to rely on God. Maybe God is going to get America out of its comfort zone!

James said...

Agree with Lindsay.

tngarrett said...

I agree, Nate. It's sad that so many of our rights are being infringed upon and the fact that the newest thing comes down to "hate crimes" against "minorities". If the minorities are being favored under this law and "protected", could the non-minorities rise up and say it is a hate crime against them?

Unknown said...

You all raise some good points, thanks for chiming in on the conversation

Mike Johnson said...

I'm with you; i don't understand why there has to be a "hate" crime. A crime is a crime, no matter who the victim is. I'm also concerned that Pastor's could some day be at risk.

Josh Rountrey said...

...some are more equal than others. --Animal Farm

debs said...

It is scary how fast our country is changing!

Anonymous said...

I agree with some of what was said, but here is why I don't and can't agree with all. For you see we are not nor will we ever all be equal in America.(examples) My mothers aunt was also arrested for riding in the front of a bus like Rosa Parks because she was not white and she refused to sit in the back because of her black skin. (how are we equal there.) What about the white guy that called my house because he said I got his girlfriend fired left a message on my answering machine at home and called me a "N" assuming that I was a person of color because of my name and threatened coming to my home and attacking myself and family.(still dealing with race issues) These are just two examples of how we are not equal at all. I could go on and on with just real life everyday situations with just my family let alone the crap and beatings some of my friends have taking by the police or even my sister being pulled over by two white police officers because they said her tag looked suspicious and made her get out of her car although she showed proof it was reg. in her name and searched her car without legal cause in the cold, late at night.(This was just last winter)

So great that the Civil War put that into play, but reality shows it still has not and will not happen any time soon.

We have to understand that this will continue until Christ returns.

(This thing with the gov't.) When do we as a body of believers start reading and educating ourselves in God's Word, Instead of getting mad at the gov't for what is taking place, why don't we start by getting right with Christ!

Romans 13:1-5 (New Living Translation)

Romans 13
Respect for Authority
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

Everything that is happening in this world is happening for a reason.

because we are not doing this......

2 Chronicles 7:14 (King James Version)

14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We as born again believers in Jesus Christ can't put away our own agendas. We can't fellowship with the non-denom. they just let anyone speak. We can't worship with the baptist, Lord no not the baptist. We need to focus on filling OUR seats to OUR church that WE built instead of focusing on teaching and educating like Christ did when he walked the earth. (making Disciples)

On the last statement you made. For me All that I'm doing to try to please Christ is well worth the persecution from the world.

John 15:18-19 (New Living Translation)
18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

CHRIST CHOSE ME!

I do respect you opinion!

Thanks for listening

Unknown said...

Dear Anonymous,

I appreciate your views and I also respect your opinion. I am sorry that your family has been through so much and had to endure racism. I have had friends from every race my entire life, I have relatives who are in interracial marriages and am proud to be the uncle of their children.

There are racist people of every background. I believe we are moving forward as a society. We have a black president in the White House and more white voters voted for him than they did for John Kerry four years earlier. So yes I believe that a hate crimes bill is a step backwards for the civil rights movement unless that movement is to one day become more than equal. I hope equality is enough. We cannot change the fact that whites used to have black slaves any more than we can change the fact that the majority of the time they were sold in Africa to the whites by blacks. Let us leave the past in the past and step into the future united. There are no slave-owners alive to apologize or slaves alive to forgive them. There is only us. Change begins with us.

We are to obey our government as far as they do not ask us to violate God's principles-- Acts 5:29 "We must obey God rather than men! Our country is also not Rome (whom Paul wrote to). Our country is representative in nature and encourages participation in the decision making processes. When they take that away I will comply, but in the mean time I will not be a door mat when my duty as an american and a father who raises children here is to vote for who best represents me and to hold our government accountable when their decisions do not represent me. The same is expected of you.

We do not NEED as Christians to change our country, but if we are ALLOWED to then why should we be silent? If Christianity becomes illegal I will comply in everything-- except sharing my faith because that is a command of God. Thank you for taking the time to write your opinion it is truly thought provoking and many of my readers will enjoy your point of view.

Nate Garrett

Anonymous said...

"Hate crime," means crime motivated by a bias, meaning identifications such as gender, sexual orientation or religion. So if a crime motivated by anti-Christian sentiment is committed, that individual receives *equal protection* under the "hate crimes" law.

The victimized white man meme is tired. Using equality as a straw man for not wanting to institutionally recognize homosexuality is tired. Fear-mongering a non-existent Constitutional crisis is a cowardly way to defend your political opinions.

Laura Milner said...

I didn't know about this. Wow, going to read up on it now. Side note: enjoying my comment trail?

Unknown said...

Laura-Yes I am and do you recognize that pic from my Twitter page?