Back home from hospital where I discovered all needles have the potential to be pricks and some, indeed, where pushed into my flesh to supply me with various fluids and drugs. I think around 75% of the staff that have treated me have not been of my country origin so I would have been in a mess had I refused to be treated by those who needed to get me better with all their differences of age, colour, creed, race, religion, gender, sexuality, disabilitiy and their drugs! ;-) We are all DIFFERENT

On a more serious note though...

Reading up on the thread since I went last Sunday it seems that it serves as a good example of how people's different way of saying and feeling things can lead to much disruption of thought and resentment of one's fellow humans. We are 'Catters, so will not resort to hating each other for our differences of ideas and ideals, but it looks like it came close once or twice. I think it great when those differences can be aired and talked about without nastiness.

All I can say is that I do disagree with those who think hate crime legislation is not needed as it is covered by other laws. To the individual that suffers the hate contingent of a crime it is far from just like ordinary crime (if ever there could be such a thing). I suppose that most would need to experience it to know it for sure but I do think that the law is trying to address that leap from hate thought to hate crime by making people more aware and giving protections to some who are more vulnerable because of their difference in society (we all know when we are bullied and, subtle though the perpetrator may be to the point others don't see it, WE know). I really do not think the law is being made to give them protection from the law because of any difference and, for sure, for hate law to work it has to be fair on ALL. If you are a criminal, no matter your minority or majority belonging, then you should be prosecuted.

I think some grey areas are still being worked through and sorted but, in the main, it is there for the good of everyone and society, minority or majority, because as individuals we all are a minority of one..

mp