Dumb 'late-night' thought regarding Terror vs. Crimes and Hate Crimes vs. Crimes

[PBS Poll-435]

Throughout the debate on the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act I wondered to myself what is really the difference between a crime and a hate crime.

After seeing the insanity in the debate regarding the Federal Government trying the Gitmo detainees in Federal Court, I must ask them, if a "Crime is a Crime is a Crime" (a la the motive doesn't matter,) what is the fucking problem with trying the Gitmo detainees in NY?



They have already said that one crime equals another crime and that the standard Geneva Conventions standard does not apply to "these people."




So... :wtf:

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Size doesn't matter. Motive is everything.

Motive is the difference between man slaughter and murder. If you back out of the driveway and run over your wife's lover, that is man slaughter. If you knew her lover was leaving and you planned to be there so you could back out over his head, that is murder.

If you pull out a pistol and shoot 13 fellow military members because you have a muscle spasm in your trigger finger, that is manslaughter. If you sell all of your furniture, and plan for you last rights before you go in and shoot 13 service members to death, that is murder. Motive is everything.