Every rational, law-abiding person incorporates considerations regarding their personal safety into their behavior. We all, to one degree or another, think about what we might do that makes us more or less likely to be the victim of a crime. It's not about "blaming the victim" as much as it is about making choices that are in our own power to make. For example, to be less likely to be the victim of a robbery we might commonly choose to avoid carrying valuables, carrying large amounts of cash, or putting ourselves in situations that make help less likely to intervene. Likewise, women commonly choose more modest clothing and choose well-lighted areas, preferring to remain in the company of others whenever in public. There are many things that we can choose to do in going about our daily lives ... choices that don't excessively infringe upon our liberties.

We cannot, however, CHOOSE not to be black, or change our racial make-up. We cannot reasonably choose to change our gender. And, furthermore, we SHOULD not change our political or religious choices based on fear, since that corrupts the very nature of our civil society. After all, the very definition of "terrorism" is the creation of fear to cause people to modify their political or religious choices.

Thus, a "hate crime" is not only a crime against the single victim of any instance of that crime ... it is ALSO a crime against all members of the class of victim selected! It's NOT the same crime! It's a kind of social TERRORISM. Get that through your $%^&** skull!