Racially aggravated crime. (RA)

[Ward-Minter]

Just a point here I wish to discuss.

If a crime is based solely on a persons membership to a particular group I can fully understand why there needs to be an additional law (or appendages) to cover it. Therefore RA assault, public order, criminal damage etc are already in statute.

But consider this. If a woman cuts a motorist up and he shouts "You stupid sl4g" based solely on the gender of the driver

If the bad driver is ginger he shouts "You ginger idiot"

If the bad driver is fat "You fat bar steward"

If the bad driver is old "You old git"

If he driver is wearing glasses "You four eyed git"

ETC ETC ETC.

Why if the bad driver was non-white and the person cut up shouted something deemed as racially inappropriate, could he possible face some charge if investigated.

Surely the colour of one's skin is genetically pre-determined in the same was as one's gender, one's size, one's age, one's hair colour and one's eyesight.

What is so extra ordinary about skin?

The act of road rage is aimed at an immediate insult to the bad driver, not a deep seated racial prejudice.

Hope you get my point!!!

[NiceCupOfTea]

I gather you are asking why is it that skin colour is such an emotive subject that it causes people to kill. It's not just skin colour, but anyone who lives a different way of life that these hateful peole want to destroy - skin colour is just so obvious a difference. Religion is such a source of inspiration for this sort of hatred, full of Gods smitting non-believers, so I'd say racial hatred has been around ever since we first came down from the trees and met our cousins who'd been living in a different tree.

[ronniemonda9]

I don't think that answer is correct.

You are very right in your question, however.

The answer can be seen by reading through literature (v interesting) such as Tajfel.

[joko]

Because the slave trade did not involve ginger people or people with big ears.

Because there is not a KKK for big noses.

Because there has never been segregation of gingers and fat people.

Because there have never been burning crosses and big-eared men hung nearby.

- I do take your point though - these things shouldn't be used as insults, these things are all the same - genetic attributes...but for some reason, skin colour is viewed very differently - a movement! - by a lot of ignorant people - and the emotion involved and the history of problems based on skin colour make the laws necessary.

only by trying to stamp on it every time it rears its ugly head, will we ever rid our species of this irrational hatred

[MINTED187]

i can see what you are saying ward-minter but....

..you do not get groups of people wanting to harm or kill say people with big noses, or just women or red heads, or people with glasses do you?

yet out there, there are dedicated hate groups and people wanting to harm others beacuse of the colour of their skin

what is so extra ordinary about skin you say? well it causes an irrational fear, insecurity and hatred in some people who cannot understand or bare people who are different to them

when will people realise that we are all the same???? and that colour is just that, colour !!!

we all have the same body parts etc.... arrggghhhhhh!!!!