Quote Originally Posted by tony bagadonuts View Post
This is an interesting back and forth but ultimately it's a circle jerk. None of you can divine the intent of these attackers. Not Druff, not Hockey, not mumbler and not I. We can guess, but that's all it is so don't pretend you know because you don't.

Maybe we'll get the "why" from the attackers eventually, but that cuts to the heart of the problem with the concept of hate crimes in general. What is the important societal factor here, the crime or the intent?

These punks need to be prosecuted and the victims deserve justice. I'm not sure the why really matters in the grand scheme of things any more than the victim's commentary and critique thereof matters either.
Fair point, and this is why I don't like hate crime legislation, even though I think hate crimes are reprehensible (and as a Jew, it's something on my mind when I attend public Jewish events or go to temple.)

It's tough to ascertain what people where thinking when they commit their crimes. Additionally, I believe we should prosecute the crime itself, not the reason for the crime.

I don't think a guy attacking me for being Jewish deserves a tougher sentence than someone attacking me to steal my wallet. It should be the same tough sentence either way.