Hate crime or just theft?
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
July 4, 2012 3:18pm CST
A couple in Colorado is claiming that the theft of a sign from their yard was a hate crime directed at them because of their religion. Police are pursuing the case as a plain theft.
The sign read - Vote Satan and the couple are members of the Church of Satan and say that if it had been a star of David or other religious item it would be pursued as a hate crime.
Here is a link to the story - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/vote-satan-sign-stolen-colorado-satanist-couple-cry-hate-crime-religious-freedom-article-1.1107672?localLinksEnabled=false
Personally, I say you cannot claim it is a hate crime until you catch the thief and find out why they did it. If it was some kids pulling a prank that is a lot different from some religious fanatic who thinks it is OK to go onto someone else's property and steal something that "offends" them.
Regardless of the motive - it was a crime and the perpetrators should return the sign to this couple.
2 responses
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
5 Jul 12
I really wonder why some people just do not let others live peacefully. I always believe that we all are different, we all have different views of life, different religions, and faith and educational background, races but we are one in humanity. Lest we are supposed to give each other their own choices as to why they choose the different path - so long as they do not break the law of man and the law of nature, then i am in no way will ever interfere with their affairs.
Some people just thinks so highly of themselves, perhaps wanting to make a point that others unlike them must either be persecuted or put to shame! well shame on them.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
14 Jul 12
If you disagree with someone, you have the right to tell them so; but, you don't have the right to steal from them or hassle them to the point where it becomes harassment.
Too many people think that their opinion is the only one that counts and they think that everyone has to accomodate them and their beliefs. When others do not accomodate their beliefs, they seem to think that they have the right to break laws to "correct" the situation and I hate to say it; but, Christians seem to be at the forefront of that, right along with the Muslims and the Jews.
In this case though, we do not know the motives of the thiefs; so, we should not be jumping to assumptions. This could have been perpetrated by someone who felt "offended" by the sign OR by someone who was just greedy and wanted the sign for themselves.
Until they are caught and questioned, we will never know.
@Lmfisher666 (820)
• United States
4 Jul 12
It doesn't matter what the sign said it was theft. You can't assume something when you don't know. These people are obviously trying to draw attention to themselves and their religion.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
14 Jul 12
Well, you know what they say - "no such thing as bad publicity".
Also, they may feel that they are being persecuted for their religion; whether, it is true or not.
Some people become hypersensitive about what they think others are thinking or saying about them (that is true of some members of any minority) and try to attibute specific feelings/prejudices to others even when nothing of the sort was intended.
