Ted Auch

A couple of weeks ago the debate around a hate crimes bill was brought before the House and was approved by a vote of 249 to 175. The bill is designed to give those that are victims of such crimes new federal protections and is largely due to the courageous and resolute work of the family of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, who was brutally tortured and left for dead in 1998. His story was recently revived by the “Laramie Project”, which forced the community to, in the words of Reggie Fluty a Laramie policeman as reported by Patrick Healy in The Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/theater/17laramie.html?scp=1&sq=Patrick%20Healy%20Reggie%20Fluty&st=cse) “…just, as a community, get slugged before you wake up and grow up…I don’t think we’re all grown up, but I think people are trying.” Getting back to the bill in congress it defines hate crimes as though motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Seems harmless enough right? However, Representative Virginia Foxx, a Republican of North Carolina, stated on the floor of the House that Mr. Shepard’s death was “a hoax” and did so while the Shephard family was in attendance.

I have to wonder why so angry Ms. Foxx? What is it about this bill you that seems so anathema to you and your right-wing colleagues? It says on your website that you are a lay leader in your church and I am wondering if such animosity towards those that don’t look like you, believe what you believe, and sleep with the people you have slept with was cultivated at your church. You voted against money for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Voting Rights Act in 2006. Why? What is your problem and by association the right-wing’s problem with people that aren’t you in the strictest sense? Okay I think I get it you don’t like those that fall into the categories mentioned above and that is well within your rights as an American citizen. However, what I can’t understand is why you think that an individual has the right to inflict harm on someone because the victim is different? Is it that you think the aforementioned are virulent strains of H1N1 that will spread to your district(s) or possibly your grandchildren? Come on you know better right? Right? Do you think that if you promote the ability of all to vote in this country it will lessen your chances of reelection? Maybe it will but maybe it won’t if you simply reach out to those on the other side of the track/aisle and let them know that philosophical differences are no reason for the clear hatred that came to the surface in your speech.

You and your colleagues need to understand that the chickens will come home to roost eventually and someone in your district or town or even closer will be subjected to the horrible crimes Mr. Shephard undeservedly was on the receiving end of and at that moment Ms. Foxx I hope you don’t invoke the word hoax when consoling the families who on that sad day will not be some far-off liberals but rather your constituents. We aren’t asking you to like or even approve of these people we are simply asking you to consider whether physical or philosophical differences are worthy of torture or worse yet death? Please answer no as it is only a matter of time before such crimes, if ignored, reach the 5th district of N.C., because I am sure you haven’t weeded out all minorities although it seems from your words you may try if given the chance. On the surface Ms. Foxx how different do you really think Laramie, WY and say Boone or Mount Airy, N.C. really are from each other and the rest of the country? I am sure the folks in Laramie thought the same prior to October 12th, 1998. Stop spending so much of your energy on hating and a little more on understanding your neighbors. I think your grandkids and the 5th District of N.C. will eventually thank you for such a transformation.