Hate Crimes Bill a Nazi Thought-Police Spree

Washington, DC (TLS). Without allowing real debate or amendments to guard free speech and expression, House Democrats passed the so-called 'hate crimes bill' that is actually a license for government to act as the thought police.

Under the ethically-challenged guidance of Rep. John Conyers of the House Judiciary Committee, this bill will essentially make it a hate crime for a minister of the Christian gospel to describe homosexual behavior as a sin, even if it is read straight from the pages of the Holy Bible.

Republicans attempted to amend the bill to grant exemptions to religious organizations which by their very nature are charged with the responsibility to speak sometimes uncomfortable truths that fly in the face of the opinions of the masses.

I am sure Conyers, for example, would not have agreed that the fact that slave owners considered the preaching against slavery by America's ministers constituted hate crimes against slave owners and Southerners. These courageous men often took a stance on the issues of the day that were very unpopular.

What right does the U.S. Government have to tell a minister of a congregation that he cannot speak the truth from the Bible as he interprets it?

The Nazis silenced their opposition in Germany by attacking churches and religious bodies. They did this by first determining what form of speech was allowed. And then, since they had already confiscated the citizens' guns, there was no real resistance when the jackbooted thugs came knocking on their doors to haul them off to camps for merely speaking forbidden words.

President Bush has said he will veto this bill, as well he should. And Congress should promptly uphold that veto. This is a bill that attacks freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech.