the foolishness of the designation: "hate crimes"

Our warped P.C. culture is enamored of labeling people and things and the phrase "hate crimes" is a chief example. It is impractical and foolishly arrogant to believe that we can properly punish people for their "thoughts", "attitudes", "biases", "prejudices", and even "ignorance", in ADDITION to whatever criminal action they have been engaged in. If you hate me, it's not a crime. I might contend that your hate is a sin, a real offense against God and all that life is meant to be, but it's not a crime. But, if you hit me, hurt me, steal from me, kill me, ruin my good name or lie about me, all of which are measurable ACTIONS, then a crime may have been committed which deserves the punishment of society. While I may deplore the varied hateful attitudes of numerous individuals and groups, the mere fact that people are filled with hate is simply a symptom of human brokenness. Hate is a testament to what humanity has become and an urgent plea for outside intervention, namely from God.
The classic parable of "The Good Samaritan" (Luke 10: 30-37) demonstrates the power of what happens when hate (even anticipated hate) is overcome! It is easily understood that the Priest and the Levite may have been law-abiding (in their understanding), may have been cowards, or may have simply been hard-hearted at seeing the sorry plight of their countryman. But, the man they neglect is indeed one of their own (so hate is not possible?) and they leave him in his sad situation. The Samaritan, on the other hand, offers mercy and help to the one he would be expected to hate. Scripture says that the Samaritan felt compassion for the man who was robbed and beaten. Thus, nearly 2,000 years after Jesus told the story, we still look upon that nameless Samaritan man with admiration.
To label a crime a "hate crime" doesn't really end up meaning anything of substance. Every act of deliberate harm to another speaks the hatred hiding in the human heart. Civil laws and civil law enforcement can properly, if imperfectly, deal with the actions an individual or group might take. But civil laws and civil law enforcement have no power to police the mind and heart and it is foolishness to pretend they do.

A little personal history:

First and foremost, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus really is the way, truth, and life that saves me from my sin and connects me to a loving heavenly Father. I practice my faith (and I need lots of practice) in a United Methodist Church and in my community. I come from a family with strong Christian roots, some extending nearly 200 years back into the Methodist movement (thus, the name Ameri-Methodist) and some extending back through other Christian movements.
The following short list highlights some of my personal assumptions about life and God: 1) All human beings are made in the image of God. 2) All human beings are corrupted by sin. 3) God, in his love, initiated contact with a broken humanity and the story is accurately told through the words of the Bible. 4) Jesus is the prophesied Messiah; the one and only Savior for you and me. 5) Jesus is the incarnate Son of God. His life demonstrates what life can be. His death atones for the sins of the world. His resurrection opens the door to heaven. 6) The Holy Spirit indwells individual Christians and Christ's Church, abundantly gifting Jesus' followers to share life well within the Church and beyond its walls. 7) Jesus meant it when he said we should love God with our all and love our neighbor as ourself.
That's enough for now. My intent is to share my faith, humble observations, and to vent about various things that make me a little crazy.