Stephen Lawrence...

[one eyed jack]

Max

Mugging a man for his money and killing him is very different t killing him because he is black. it could be regarded as incidental if the "n" word wasnt used and the fact he wasnt even robbed would indicate it was racially motivated

Murdering someone because he is different (thanks for pointing out what I meant David. Be he/ she black/white/ gay or martian) is only going to spark more fear and paranoia and racial discontentment than a mere mugging resulting in a murder.

Kill a man because he is black could result in a riot. Remember Rodney King and the LA riots? Winston Silcott at Broadwater Farm? Both stemmed from anger, fear, paranoia and frustration. A heady mix

I see your point about the loss of a son is a loss of a son but I think if you cant tell the difference in results and outcome then you are seriously out of touch with real life.

[max_tranmere]

I said in my OP that it will probably lead to race riots if these two suspects are not sent down this time, therefore whether it was a racist attack or not has an impact on a wider scale - but Neville and Doreen Lawrence would not be any more or less sad whatever the reason for the killing was because their son is gone and that is sad whatever the motive.

[max_tranmere]

I wouldn't say I was seriously out of touch with real life. There have always been racial tensions in society and sadly there always will be and things like the Rodney King thing in LA (I remember when that happened) will set the whole thing off, especially if the TV media push it and push it like they did in LA, until the whole city explodes. I stand by what I said though that a murder is just as tragic, whatever the motive.

[David Johnson]

I agree entirely with OEJ

Max, you said.

""It seems certain that Stephen Lawrence was murdered because he was black and the murderers were racists. However, does that really matter? "

I think it really, really does matter and that is why racially and religious inspired crimes exist on the statute book for attacks of whites on black, Asians on whites, attacks on Jews or Muslims etc etc. Quite right too.

Obviously the death of a child or loved one in a violent way is horrific whether there is a racial implication or not. That isn't the point. Race/religious crimes are an incredibly serious threat to society when you consider what they can lead to e.g. the Holocaust, race riots, total breakdown of law and order, ethnic cleansing like in Kosovo etc. etc.

These kind of crimes do matter and need to be monitored in terms of location, quantity, type etc and dealt with severely.

Cheers
D

[one eyed jack]

Max. You probably mean well but your posts sometimes dont indicate this.
Anyway , Im not here to cause offence. Just feel you are out of touch with some of your comments and do wonder if it betrays some kind of prejudice but you are not inflammatory with it.

Either way, you are at liberty to exercise your views as I am at liberty to oppose it.

This Stephen Lawrence incident is a bit raw for me though but I've always believed its everyones god given right to dislike who they want to but the moment it infringes on that persons civil liberties then I believe retribution should be exacted with the same contempt but we shouldnt forget that those who commit anti social acts also have brothers, sisters, friends and those that love them who are not party to the offenders ideas they are close to.

Thats what makes the whole thing complicated.

[frankthring]

I see Mr Slip recommends giving the accused 14 years if found guilty !
I wish to Hell people would stop this namby pamby niceness ! 14 years
means out in 8 or 9 years ! I say abolish majority verdicts, give me 12
people who reach a decision in full after deliberating and seeing all the
evidence......then hang the swine if guilty !!!