Editor:
Instead of analyzing the main facets of the hate crimes bill or its important implications, John Morley went straight for Sen. Alicia Suazo’s jugular. In his March 5 article, “Real Debate Over Hate Crime Bill Is Impossible,” Morley accuses Sen. Alicia Suazo of furthering her “personal agenda.” Ridiculous.
Sen. Suazo’s personal agenda is to represent and defend the views of her constituents?constituents who overwhelmingly demand a comprehensive hate crimes bill.
Morley then calls Sen. Suazo an “attention-hungry” politician. In order to raise awareness about hate crimes, Sen. Suazo has tried to draw attention, not to herself, but to the needs and issues of Utah’s minority populations.
Can’t Morley see that Sen. Suazo is not self-promoting or advancing some left wing conspiracy, but is honestly advocating for oppressed and disenfranchised minorities?
The fact remains that bigots specifically target and commit crimes against minorities. Currently, Utah has no specific laws dealing with specific crimes of hate. Given our nation’s (and state’s) prejudicial legal heritage, it is important to create laws that will safeguard the rights of minorities, deter bigots and thoroughly punish perpetrators of hate crimes.
Despite what Morley claims, it doesn’t matter if hate crimes affect a few people or many people, they do happen. Just ask the U student mugged because of his ethnic background.
Indeed, Suazo’s battle may be uphill and certainly almost impossible. Yet, it is a battle she, compelled by moral principle, the spirit of her late husband and the cries of hate crimes victims, needs to fight.
Javier Chavez, Senior, History