Editor,
When did patriotism become a hate crime?
First, let me define the term according to New Mexico law: "(a crime) committed because of the victim's actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity" (31-18B-3).
Does the definition of hate crime coincide with this case? I don't think so. It is ignorant, illogical and dangerous to jump to the conclusion that Peter Lynch must hate all Mexicans because he removed a Mexican flag.
I'll be the first to admit that Lynch was wrong to tear the flag once he had removed it, but I believe a charge of defacing public property without the classification of a hate crime may be much better in this case.
Let me give a recent example of a charge that didn't fit the circumstances of the crime committed. We all remember the Jena Six. The public was up in arms about the charges of attempted murder not fitting the crime. These young men were, according to a majority of Americans, discriminated against by being charged with outrageous charges because of the color of their skin. So, is Lynch being charged with a hate crime because of the color of his skin?
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My point is, discrimination goes both ways. It just isn't politically correct to talk about. Being a veteran, Lynch presumably takes the flying of the U.S. flag alongside any other nation's flag very seriously. It is his duty as a veteran to see that the flag protocol is followed.
He served to protect this nation and should be thanked for that. He served to protect his flag, your flag, our flag. We are so quick to condemn the actions of someone when they can be seen as controversial or conservative and too quiet and slow to defend someone who served for us because patriotism isn't trendy. Our generation's morals are backward.
Danielle DeLaHunt
UNM student
