[Vision2020] Vandalism Deplored as Hate Crime

[Andreas Schou]

> So, for the sake of argument, let's put aside the legalities and the
> fact this was someone’s personal property, and look at the "intent,"
> "mind-set," or "personal character" displayed in both cases.  Is there
> a difference, humanistically, philosophically, morally, or socially,
> between these two incidents?  A simple yes or no will suffice.  I, of
> course, will vote No.

Absolutely.

I'm having a difficult time deciding whether you're ignorant, blind,
or disingenuous. I suspect it's more the latter than anything. The
swastika is not a symbol denoting "you are a Nazi." It's a symbol
denoting "I am a Nazi, and I want to let you know that I know where
you are." It's not merely an insult: it's a threat.

"Hitler Youth" is similar only insofar as it refers to Nazis. It
refers, in particular, to your church's policy of preaching genocide
against the secular culture that will "become to you Amalekites" when
you take over. I suspect that, even more particularly, it refers to
your church preaching the state-sanctioned murder of gays and lesbians
and the moral superiority of racial slavery. In that regard, then,
it's not a statement that "we know where you are;" rather, it's a
statement that "we know _what_ you are, and we find it abominable."

I'm willing to tell you that to your face, Doug. And while I don't
necessarily approve of it being written on the sidewalk -- an
uninvolved, undeserving third party likely had to wash it off -- I
most heartily approve of the sentiment.

-- ACS