Reported U.S. Hate Crimes in 2003: 7,489

And while President Bush would have you believe all crimes are hate crimes, the true definition of a hate crime is one that violates a person’s civil rights and is motivated by hostility to the victim’s race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender. (Besides, anyone who’s been robbed knows that when a guy steals your wallet, it’s not because he hates you. It’s because he wants your money.)

So despite the reporting of nearly 7,500 accurately defined hate crimes last year, House Republicans this month decided against expanding federal hate crime protection. Why? Because it doesn’t directly affect them and because they’re worried their buddies could be charged with a hate crime for railing against and, some say, encouraging hatred of homosexuals. So, let’s help the right help its buddies. Eliminate hate crime legislation altogether and charge those who commit such crimes with terrorism.

Isn’t burning a cross on someone’s lawn or painting an epithet on their home an unlawful threat of violence with intent to intimidate or coerce? Isn’t setting a person’s home on fire because the occupant is black akin to blowing up a building because its occupants are Americans? It’s small scale terrorism. Right here at home. And the government will do nothing to stop it. At least until there’s a string of hate crimes against old, wealthy white guys.