We have spent a lot of time lately writing about the misdeeds of law enforcement officers. We also spend a lot of time writing about hostile work environment, bigotry, and racism. So, I’m sure it comes as a surprise to some of you that when I read the article on the Barstow police officer being arrested for a “hate crime” because he used racial slurs during a fight, I really have a problem with it.
If appropriate, I have no issue with the officer being arrested for battery or other similar crime. I do have a problem with him being arrested for a hate crime because racial slurs were used. Cops should not being saying such things and the department would be well within their rights to discipline him for it. But arrest?
If I use the “N” word on the blog to describe someone, and my readers boycott my blog because they are offended by that, I have no problem with that whatsoever. It’s one of the reasons why I have been resistant to advertising. I’m not going to have someone use financial means to control what I write.
Please understand I find racial slurs offensive. But when one can be arrested for a “hate crime” because of this type of speech, as a nation we are in trouble. These are the kind of rules our forefathers fought a revolution over and the kind of laws our forefathers thought they covered in the Constitution of the United States. Our politically correct society is getting ridiculous and scary.
I think the legislative intent for these laws were to protect people from specific racist groups or individulas who seek out a person of color, or religious belief, life style and attacks them.
Like the KKK doing what they did in the south.
Not to be arrested for using offensive words during a fist fight.
But if this off duty cop knew this victim was at his girlfriends house and went there to do harm, because he didn’t like blacks hanging out with her, that would be another issue all together.
We will see. I know there are a few Hesperia cops who don’t have any time for this guy after what he said to them.